The President of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) Albert Kwabena Dwumfour has commended the Ghana Police Service for their “high level of professionalism” in handling of the Democracy Hub demonstrators.

According to him, the Police were professional in the face of what appeared as extreme provocation on the side of demonstrators.

“I want to commend the Ghana Police Service for exhibiting a high level of professionalism and restraint during the recent three-day protest against Galamsey by some individuals. We note some excesses and provocations that occurred during the demonstration, and the GJA condemns these excesses,” the GJA President in his address at the 75th GJA awards in Accra.

Meanwhile, a former Deputy Attorney General, Dr Dominic Ayine, has also condemned the conduct of the demonstrators.

Speaking in an interview with TV3 on Saturday, September, 28, Dr Ayine emphasised that while the right to protest is protected under the constitution, violence should never be a part of such activities.

He stressed that peaceful demonstrations are an essential part of democracy, but the actions of some protesters who resorted to violence undermine the cause they are advocating for.

According to him, such behaviour only escalates tensions and complicates the relationship between citizens and law enforcement.

"The blocking of traffic is something that is condemnable, the attempt to engage in fisticuffs with police is something that we should condemn. Having said that, I do not think that the activities they engaged in are sufficient reasons you say they should be detained without bail. That is where my concern is," he said.