"We should all agree our brothers who have been arrested should be released with immediate effect. Every second they spend in there [in police and prison custody] is a disgrace to our democracy," a member of the Economic Fighters League asserted on day-one of the #FreeTheCitizens protest.

The #FreeTheCitizens protest began yesterday, Thursday, October 3, 2024, mainly organised by civil advocacy group Concerned Citizens Against Galamsey. The demand by protesters who walked from Okponglo, Legon, to the Accra (Ohene Gyan) Sports Stadium, beginning their three-day action, was to see the immediate release of 54 individuals who were arrested during a three-day protest by Democracy Hub organised between the September 21 and 23, to advocate the end of illegal mining (galamsey). 

According to the Ghana Police Service, the individuals who are behind bars were arrested for all forms of lawlessness during the Democracy Hub protest. Having been remanded for two weeks, their charges in court included: unlawful assembly, causing unlawful damage, disturbing public peace, obstructing traffic flow, and abusing police and military officers. 

In sharp contrast to Democracy Hub's protest, the Concerned Citizens Against Galamsey protest on October 3, was without controversy. Organisers strictly asked protesters to stick to the route agreed with police and focus on their anti-galamsey message. Some protesters, when the crowd progressed to the National Cathedral site, raised anti-police chants but they did not gain much attention. Those who indicated intentions to go swim in the rain water collected in the cathedral foundation were effectively blocked by police and discouraged by some members of the protesting crowd.

Several times during the walk witnessed by Class News' Prince Benjamin (PB), organisers spoke into the microphone and commended police for their alertness, professionalism and friendliness. On occasion, some police officers bantered and laughed with protesters.

One such moment was when the walk progressed to the AngloGold Ashanti office at Kawukudi, Accra. 

Economic Fighters League member remarked: "People who come to protest, must be protected like we're seeing today." 

"The police are protecting lives and property. They are here to make sure there is public order," he stressed.

He, however, wondered: "What happened that day [during the Democracy Hub protest] shouldn't have happened." 

The Economic Fighters League, part of the freshly formed National Coalition Against Illegal Mining (NCAIM), is led by Commander-in-chief Ernesto Yeboah.