Timothy Selikem Donkor, the lawyer representing the Democracy Hub protesters, has stated that the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) has confirmed receipt of their petition requesting an investigation into the police regarding the arrest and detention of the protesters.
The lawyers submitted their petition to CHRAJ on Wednesday, September 25, seeking an investigation into what they termed the “unlawful arrest” and “unlawful detention” of the Democracy Hub protesters by the police.
In an appearance on TV3’s New Day on Thursday, September 26, Timothy Donkor revealed that CHRAJ has assured them that an investigation will be conducted, although the Commission has yet to provide an official written response.
“We haven’t received a formal response regarding the action, but they have acknowledged receipt of the petition and informed us that they will promptly establish a case management committee to investigate the matter. So, we are currently awaiting that,” he stated.
Protesters involved in the ‘Say No To Galamsey’ demonstration were arrested by police on September 21 and 22 during the three-day protest against illegal mining.
The police labeled the gathering as an “unlawful assembly” and charged the protesters with various offenses, including destruction of property, offensive conduct, assaulting a public officer, and unlawful assembly.
So far, twenty-eight protesters have been remanded into police custody after their bail was denied on Tuesday, September 24.
Additionally, eleven others, whose cases were heard in a different circuit court, were also denied bail and subsequently remanded into prison custody after their lawyer requested an adjournment to review their charges.
They are scheduled to reappear in court on October 8.
