Ghanaian police said they had arrested 42 demonstrators in the capital, Accra, after clashes erupted during protests against economic hardship and the government’s handling of illegal mining, known locally as “galamsey”.

AFP reported that the protests, organised by the group Democracy Hub, began on Friday and were set to continue until Monday.

The demonstrators, mostly young people, marched through the city chanting patriotic songs and carrying placards expressing frustration over environmental destruction caused by illegal mining and perceived economic mismanagement by the government.

Forty-two people were arrested on Sunday, police said in a statement.

“These individuals assembled unlawfully and attacked police officers who were performing their lawful duties,” police spokesperson Grace Ansah-Akrofi told AFP.

“They will be arraigned in court for their actions, which include obstructing traffic, damaging property and causing disturbances.”

The police said in the statement that the protesters engaged in various acts of lawlessness, including removing the ignition key from a police vehicle and throwing it away, pushing down crash barriers and disrupting the peace.

They also announced a manhunt for other protest leaders, including popular lawyer and activist Oliver Barker-Vormawor for allegedly evading arrest.

“We are working to bring all those responsible to face justice,” Ansah-Akrofi added.

Barker-Vormawor, however, insisted that the police’s claim about him was “baseless and misleading”.

“I have been in consistent communication with senior officers within the Police hierarchy regarding my whereabouts and availability,” he said in a post on X.

In response, Democracy Hub condemned the police’s use of force, calling it an unjustified attack on peaceful demonstrators.

“We urge the authorities to engage in constructive dialogue with protest leaders to protect the rights and safety of all participants,” the group said in a statement.

The protests come as Ghana gears up for a presidential election in December, with the economy at the forefront of the campaign.

The race pits ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) candidate and Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia against former president John Mahama of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC).

Ghana’s economy is slowly recovering from a severe financial crisis in 2022, which forced the country to default on its external debt.

Inflation peaked at 54 percent in December 2022 but eased to 20.4 percent last month.

With President Nana Akufo-Addo stepping down after two terms, his deputy Bawumia is leading the ruling party’s bid to retain power.

Ghana, a leading producer of oil, gold and cocoa, is gradually steadying its economy with a $3-billion relief package from the International Monetary Fund.

AFP