The Deputy Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Justice Srem Sai, has justified the decision by the Attorney General’s Office to direct the Ghana Police Service to withdraw an injunction application against the planned anti-galamsey (illegal mining) demonstration by the Generational Rights Protection Society (GRPS).

According to the Deputy AG, the withdrawal of the application was made at the instance of the Attorney General, Dr Dominic Ayine, following meetings with security agencies.

“After two meetings with the security and intelligence agencies yesterday, the Attorney-General directed that the application for an injunction to restrain the anti-galamsey demonstrators be withdrawn.

“The injunction application was duly withdrawn this morning,” Justice Sai wrote on his Facebook page following the withdrawal of the injunction application by the police during a hearing on Friday, April 25, 2025, and its subsequent striking out by the Accra High Court.

The Ghana Police Service had filed the application on April 23, 2025, requesting the court to halt the demonstration, citing concerns over public safety and order.

According to an affidavit submitted by General Sergeant Armstrong Ankomah of the Greater Accra Regional Police Headquarters, the organisers failed to respond to a police letter regarding the event and did not secure a permit to use Liberation Square, located opposite Jubilee House, which is controlled by the Ghana Armed Forces.

The police argued that allowing the protest at this location could lead to violence and compromise public defense, safety, health, essential services, and the rights of others, particularly in light of regional security tensions.

However, Justice Sai emphasised that the demonstration will be allowed to take place on the organisers’ proposed terms, based on the right to protest as a constitutionally protected freedom and the commitment of the John Dramani Mahama government to uphold that right.

“The demonstration will be allowed to go on exactly as the demonstrators have proposed. The right to demonstrate is protected by the Constitution. President John Mahama understands the true meaning of this right. His Attorney-General, Dr. Dominic Ayine, will not violate, or allow anyone to violate, a citizen’s right to demonstrate,” he wrote.

The planned protest, set to commence at Obra Spot (Kwame Nkrumah Circle), proceed along Ring Road, and conclude at Liberation Square from 4 PM to midnight, aims to pressure the John Dramani Mahama government to take decisive action against illegal small-scale mining, also known as galamsey.



GA/MA