Several members of the Democracy Hub group were arrested by police at the 37 Roundabout on the second day of their three-day protest against Ghana’s ongoing economic crisis. The protest, initially focused on the economic situation, took an unexpected turn and shifted into an anti-galamsey (illegal mining) demonstration.
Despite warnings from the police not to gather at the same location as the previous day, protesters assembled, leading to the arrests of around 20 individuals. The police have yet to release an official statement regarding the specific number of detainees or the charges they face. The incident has sparked significant conversation on social media, with many demanding transparency and expressing concern over the right to peaceful assembly.
The police reportedly seized mobile phones from some of the arrested protesters as part of their inventory process. However, unlike the disruption caused on Day One of the protest on September 21, when demonstrators blocked roads around the 37 Roundabout, traffic remained fluid during the second day of protests.
The arrests have reignited public debate over the balance between maintaining order and respecting citizens’ rights to protest peacefully.