The arrest of 39 individuals during an anti-galamsey protest by the Democracy Hub in Accra has generated significant headlines both locally and internationally, following widespread public outrage over their continued detention.

Court documents indicate that the Office of the Attorney General has assumed responsibility for prosecuting the arrested protesters, who face allegations of lawlessness during the demonstration that took place from September 21 to September 22, 2024.

The documents reveal various charges filed against different groups of protesters. Among those listed are Oliver Barker-Vormawor, a leading figure in the Democracy Hub, along with 12 others, facing seven charges that include unlawful assembly and breach of peace.

"OLIVER BARKER-VORMAWOR, CEDERIC BANSAH, MICHAEL AMOFA EMMANUEL OFFEL: NII AYI: FRED BOATENG, DEPORTEE IDDRISU YUSIF WENDLE: FANNY OTOO, SAMUEL SAMAKOR; FELICITY NELSON, NANA AMO MENSAH PREMPEH, THOMAS YEBOAH, on or about 22 September, 2024 in Accra in the Greater Accra Region of the Republic of Ghana, conducted yourself in a manner which occasioned a breach of the peace.

"OLIVER BARRKER-VORMAWOR, CEDERIC BANSAH MICHAEL AMOFA: EMMANUEL OFFEL NII AYI FRED BOATENG, DEPORTEE IDDRISU YUSIE WENDLE FANNY OTOO, SAMUEL SAMAKOR, FELICITY NELSON, NANA AMO MENSAH PREMPEIE THOMAS YEBOAH on or about 22 September, 2024 in Accra in the Greater Accra Region of the Republic of Ghana, obstructed the police in the execution of their public duty of maintaining peate and security," parts of the document reads.

A second court document, which listed Raphael Afful Williams and 9 other protesters, had 3 charges including unlawful assembly contrary to the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29) and causing unlawful damage contrary to section 172(1)(a) of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29).

“RAPHAEL AFFUL WILLIAMS, RAZAK SULEMAN, GERALD DELIM, COMRAD ABUBAKAR SADEEQ, BILAL MOHAMMED, EBENEZER ANKOMANYI OKYERE, NORGBEDZI KELVIN, PRISCILLA TOBILI, MOHAMMED KING HASSAN, TANKO NABONG, ALIAS BLACK PYRAMID, on or about 22nd September, 2024, in Accra in the Greater Accra Region of the Republic of Ghana, assembled with intent to commit a breach of the peace.

“RAPHAEL AFFUL WILLIAMS, RAZAK SULEMAN, GERALD DELIM, COMRAD ABUBAKAR SADEEQ, BILAL MOHAMMED, EBENEZER ANKOMANYI OKYERE, NORGBEDZI KELVIN, PRISCILLA TOBILI, MOHAMMED KING HASSAN, TANKO NABONG, ALIAS BLACK PYRAMID, on or about 22nd September, 2024, in Accra in the Greater Accra Region of the Republic of Ghana, caused damage to billboards and paraphernalia belonging to political parties,” part of the document reads.

See the full charges below: