The Member of Parliament for Suame, John Darko, has criticised the initial prosecution of social activist Ama Governor and #FixTheCountry convener Oliver Barker-Vormawor, arguing that the legal action was unnecessary and politically misguided.

Speaking on Accra-base Channel One TV, the MP, stated that some cases should never have been pursued, as they risked elevating the accused into what he described as “martyrs.”

“As a lawyer, I believe some cases shouldn’t be prosecuted. In fact, not even as a lawyer, but as a politician, I think that when you prosecute some cases, you give these people a martyr tag. Ama Governor and these people shouldn’t have been prosecuted,” he said.

His remarks follow the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Dr Dominic Ayine’s withdrawal of charges against individuals linked to the Democracy Hub protests, including Barker-Vormawor and Ama Governor.

The protests, held in Accra from September 21 to 23, 2024, were against illegal mining locally known as galamsey.

A court document signed by the Attorney-General filed under nolle prosequi in January 2025, confirmed that the state would no longer pursue the case, granting full freedom to the accused.

Although Mr Darko acknowledged that there was initial justification for legal action, citing damage to public property, he maintained that the prosecution was politically ill-advised.

“I thought that politically, it wasn’t a smart decision to prosecute them,” he added.

He further suggested that the government’s move to withdraw charges was a strategic attempt to show neutrality, ensuring that dismissals were not seen as favouring only members and associates of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC).

“I feel that the withdrawal of these cases was to show the public that we are not only withdrawing cases against NDC people,” he remarked.