An Accra High Court has granted bail to nine Democracy Hub protesters, each set at GH₵70, 000 with two sureties.
This decision follows an appeal against an earlier ruling by the court, which denied bail to the nine accused persons.
The nine are Ama Governor, Emmanuel Gyan, Emmanuel Kwabena Addo, Ziblim Yakubu, Oheneba Prempeh, Philip Owusu Kobina, Desmond Akisbik, Von Coffie, and Sadik Yakubu.
As part of the bail conditions, they are required to report to the Ghana Police Service once a week.
The nine were part of the protesters arrested during the #OccupyJulorbiHouse demonstration intended to raise awareness about the harmful effects of illegal mining, commonly referred to as galamsey, on the environment and local communities.
The arrests followed alleged disturbances during the protest.
Subsequently, they were remanded after they appeared in court on September 24, 2024.
The group was charged with conspiracy to commit a crime, namely unlawful assembly, causing unlawful damage, and offensive conduct due to breach of peace.
Their bail follows protests in Ghana and the UK demanding the release of the detained protesters.
They are also called for stronger action against illegal mining.
They were clad in red t-shirts and gear and held placards with inscriptions such as “#FreeTheCitizens” and “#SayNoToGalamsey.”
Meanwhile, Oliver Barker-Vormawor, the convener of the Democracy Hub, has once again been denied bail.
The court, presided over by Justice Comfort Tasiame, denied his bail application, citing the need for further investigation and concerns about the possibility of public unrest if he were released.
According to the judge, Oliver is already standing trial on treason charges; hence, there’s no assurance that he will not commit another offence if he is granted bail.