Ama Governor (Elorm Ababio), a lawyer and prominent activist, along with eight other demonstrators, has been granted bail by the Accra High Court following their arrest during the recent #ReOccupyJulyHouse and #StopGalamsey protests in late September.
The bail, set at $70,000 each with two sureties, was secured after a hearing before Justice Comfort Tasiame.
The nine individuals were arrested while participating in the demonstrations organised by Democracy Hub, aimed at raising awareness of the country’s rampant illegal mining (galamsey) crisis and the government’s failure to take decisive action.
According to reports from journalist Kwaku Asante, state prosecutors had initially opposed the bail application, but the court overruled their objections.
The accused, including Ama Governor, Emmanuel Gyan, Emmanuel Kwabena Addo, Ziblim Yakubu, Oheneba Prempeh, Philip Owusu Kobina, Akisibik Desmond, Von Coffie, and Sadik Yakubu, are required to report to the police once a week as part of their bail conditions.
Ama Governor, one of the 53 demonstrators arrested during the protests, had been held in police custody for two weeks before the bail was granted.
The accused are now free on bail as they await the next phase of the legal proceedings.
While the court case continues, supporters of the protesters have applauded the move as a victory for free speech and civic engagement.
However, there are still many who continue to call for long-term solutions to the galamsey crisis, with many activists pledging to remain vigilant in holding the government accountable.
The case remains ongoing, with another application expected to be heard in a different court in the coming weeks.