Oliver Barker-Vormawor is a leader of the Democracy Hub
A leader of the Democracy Hub and organiser of the three-day #StopGalamsey protest, Oliver Barker-Vormawor, has been released from police custody after meeting a GH¢20,000 bail condition with two sureties.
A video shared on the X page of GhONE TV on Monday, October 21, 2024, showed him being embraced by some supporters as he exited the court premises.
Barker-Vormawor, one of the 53 members of the Democracy Hub arrested during the demonstration held from September 21 to September 23, 2024, remained in police custody despite all the other demonstrators being granted bail and was granted bail on Wednesday, October 16, 2024, after several unsuccessful attempts.
On October 7, 2024, an Accra High Court, presided over by Justice Comfort Tasiame, denied his bail application, citing the need for further investigation and concerns about potential public unrest if he was released.
The judge noted that Barker-Vormawor was already standing trial for treason, which complicated his eligibility for bail on another charge.
His legal team argued that his continued detention violated his constitutional rights to free expression and peaceful assembly, emphasising that the protests were non-violent and aimed at raising awareness of the harmful effects of illegal mining.
Barker-Vormawor was arrested alongside 53 others on charges of unlawful assembly, unlawful damage, assaulting a public officer, and offensive conduct conducive to breaching the peace.
The arrests occurred on Saturday, September 21, and Sunday, September 22, at the 37 Intersection in Accra during the protest against illegal mining, commonly known as “galamsey.”
Oliver Barker-Vormawor was reportedly seen during the protest removing the keys from a police towing van that had been parked.
Watch the video below:
GalamseyNow?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>#StopGalamseyNow protest: Oliver Barker-Vormawor has been released after meeting GH₵20K bail conditions. #GHOneNews #EIBNetwork #GHOneTV #ElectionHub pic.twitter.com/fiyDzkrhab
— GHOne TV (@ghonetv) October 21, 2024
JKB/AE
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