KEY POINTS
- Police deny allegations of refusing medical care to arrested protest leaders.
- Protesters Barker-Vormawor and Otoo were taken to the hospital and admitted.
- Concerns over detainee treatment rise amidst ongoing legal proceedings.
The Ghana Police Service has refuted the claims that the Police force denied medical treatment to the people who participated in the Democracy Hub demonstrations.
These protest demonstrations, which demanded the government end the illegal mining menace, occasioned the arrest of activist, Oliver Barker Vormawor. The police later clarified that two of the detainees, Barker-Vormawor and fellow protestor Fanny Otoo had been attended to by medical personnel after they complained of medical issues while in detention.
Police provide medical attention
As the police have reported, it was on September 24, 2024, that Otoo was sick while he and other suspects were being taken for trial. The police then rushed him to the Police Hospital in Accra where he was taken through preliminary examination and later admitted to the hospital.
At the same time, Barker-Vormawor also complained of a deteriorating health state and was also taken to the hospital for treatment.
Legal action against police
According to a report by MyJoyOnline, contrary to the police’s statement, a group of lawyers has sued the Ghana Police Service before the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ). They claim that the police brutalised protesters during the recent #StopGalamsey protests.
After the protest lasted for three days, they demanded that the government should act fast to curb what they regarded as irresponsible mining that is environmentally unfriendly and hurts the future of the country.
Rising tensions over arrests
There has been an increase in tensions due to arrests of people, especially youths. 39 protesters have been detained and placed either in police or prison custody, while others including Barker-Vormawor are still expected to go to court.
As for the arrests, and the health of detained individuals, questions have been raised over the treatment of protestors while in custody and with the police keen to address these issues publicly.
