The vice presidential candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang, has expressed deep concern over what she describes as the harsh treatment of peaceful protesters during the recent three-day demonstration by Democracy Hub.

According to her, the manhandling of protesters, arrest, starvation, and denial of access to family and legal counsel by the police, along with the subsequent remand of some protesters by the Accra Circuit is alarming.

In a statement on Thursday, September 26, Prof Opoku-Agyemang criticised the authorities’ brutal response, questioning the government's sincerity in its proclaimed fight against illegal mining and the destruction of water bodies and forest reserves.

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She called for a shift in focus, urging the authorities to direct their efforts towards tackling illegal mining, which she noted is severely harming the country's water resources, health, cocoa farms, and food security.

"It is incongruous that those actively behind illegal mining are freely walking about and smiling all the way to the bank while protesters who are concerned about the harmful impact of illegal mining are rather being suppressed," part of the statement read.

Prof. Opoku-Agyemang urged the government to desist from suppressing the right of Ghanaians to protest, especially as protests are fundamental to human rights. 

"These feudal, authoritarian and early-century reactions by the government to a peaceful protest have no place in a 21" century democracy.

"The government must therefore immediately end the persecution of the protesters and unconditionally release those in custody," she said.

Prof Opoku-Agyemang added that the government should take a cue from the NDC's pledge to properly train illegal miners and give them expert mining advisory services.

Read the full statement below.