Democracy Hub Demo Arrest: NDC Women’s Wing Condemns Detention of Pregnant Woman

The Women’s wing of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) has condemned the alleged arrest and detention of a pregnant woman among persons who were arrested on Sunday for protesting against illegal mining.

The wing in a press statement said it was “outraged and deeply concerned” about development.

The news about the arrest of the pregnant woman circulated when 39 of the arrested were arraigned in an Accra Circuit Court on Tuesday, September 24.

A relative of the four-month-pregnant woman at the court premises told the media she was mistaken as a member of the protesters alongside her husband and a brother-in-law while taking pictures of the demonstration.

In a press statement, the women’s wing said the incident highlights “disturbing” failures in the country’s law enforcement system, particularly in the treatment of vulnerable individuals, such as pregnant women, within the justice system.

“Reports indicate that Vera, along with other protesters, has been denied necessities such as food and water for the past 48 hours. This act of cruelty is not only unacceptable but also illegal under Ghana’s constitutional framework. We emphatically condemn this inhumane treatment and regard it as a violation of fundamental human rights.

“According to Clause 2 of Article 15 of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana, ‘No person shall, whether or not he is arrested, restricted, or detained, be subjected to … torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.’ The detention and mistreatment of Vera, a pregnant woman, during such a critical period in her life, is a grave breach of this constitutional provision.”

The wing has therefore demanded a thorough and independent investigation into the arrest and detention of the pregnant woman and other protesters.

“We expect full accountability from the Ghana Police Service for these acts of cruelty and any breaches of the law. We will not tolerate a justice system that fails to protect and respect the rights of individuals, particularly women, in distressing circumstances.”

Meanwhile, the General Secretary of the NDC, Sammy Gyamfi in a separate statement has called out the police for allegedly manhandling the protesters they arrested.

“The NDC condemns in no uncertain terms the high-handedness of the Ghana Police Service and their evil collaborators in the despotic Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government. It is totally reprehensible for the Police to subject civilian protestors who are merely expressing their anger against the vexed matter of illegal mining, to such barbaric and inhumane treatment.”

He also demanded the discontinuation of the prosecution of the protestors and their immediate release.

Forty-two protesters who joined the demonstration against illegal mining which started on September 21 and ended on September 23 were arrested by the police on the second day.

According to a statement by the police, the demonstrators unlawfully assembled at the 37 Intersection and attacked Police officers performing their lawful duties.

It said they entered a Police vehicle, removed the ignition key and threw it away, pushing down Police crash barriers, “obstructing traffic, causing unlawful damage, and disturbing the peace among others”.

So far 39 of them have been remanded into prison and police custody in Accra after they were arraigned on September 24. The court remanded 28 of them into Police custody and the remaining 11 into Prison custody.

While 30 of the accused persons are to reappear before the court on October 8, 2024, nine others are to appear before the court on October 11, 2024.

Source:opemsuo.com