Deputy Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Alfred Tuah-Yeboah, has stated that the decision to discontinue or continue the case against protesters arrested during the recent Democracy Hub demonstration lies solely with the Attorney-General.

Speaking on Top Story on Wednesday, September 25, he stated that the Attorney-General, Godfred Yeboah Dame, has not yet made a decision to discontinue the matter.

“The matter was referred to us for prosecution. We started yesterday then we are in court today. As I speak now, we have not taken any decision to discontinue the prosecution of this matter,” he said.

• Read also: 11 more Democracy Hub protestors remanded, to reappear tomorrow

His comments come in response to the National Democratic Congress (NDC), which condemned the remand of 28 Democracy Hub protesters into police custody and 11 others into prison custody.

In a statement signed by the NDC’s National Communications Officer, the party expressed concern over what it described as a severe abuse of power, accusing the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia administration of despotic behavior.

The NDC also criticised the Accra Circuit Court’s decision to remand the protesters, noting that their offenses were classified as misdemeanors, and called for an immediate end to the prosecution and the release of the detainees.

• Read also: NDC condemns manhandling and remand of Democracy Hub protesters

Mr Tuah-Yeboah also clarified that the decision to grant or deny bail for the arrested protesters rests with the court.

He explained that while the police may need more time to conduct further investigations, the court ultimately has the authority to decide whether or not to grant bail, noting that even if the A-G believes that bail should be granted, the judge is not bound by their recommendation.

Responding to a question on his earlier statement that the police require more time for further investigations and whether the evidence in their possession is not sufficient to prosecute the accused for unlawful acts, the Deputy A-G said that none of the individuals brought before the court can be deemed guilty at this stage.

He reiterated that all accused persons are presumed innocent, even if the police have video footage as part of the evidence.

“And so if you have had a video, you still need to do extensive investigation. And so because they are not guilty, we cannot say because we saw a video, we should rush into prosecution. But I agree with you. 

“And so if there's space for the matter to be heard expeditiously, why not? Because it is the right of every accused person to have his or her case heard in reasonable time,” he added.