Burning of Flags, Presidential Candidate Hawking and More: Watch highlights of Day 1 of #OccupyJulorbiHouse demo

The #SayNoToGalamsey demonstration by the Democratic Hub, protesting the Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo government’s failure to end illegal small-scale mining (galamsey), continues today, Sunday, September 22, 2024.

Day one of the demonstration on Saturday saw defiant protesters pushing the limits of the Ghana Police Service, who had to be on top of their game to avoid escalation.

Prior to the demonstration, the police announced a special operation, blocking major roads leading to the seat of government, the Jubilee House, which the protesters indicated they wanted to ‘occupy’.

Responding to the police’s prevention of their approach to the Jubilee House, the protesters took retaliatory actions that outraged a section of the public.

Several notable Ghanaians also gathered at the demonstration to express their displeasure over the government’s failure to end galamsey, which is destroying the country’s forest reserves and water bodies, endangering the lives of citizens.

Here are highlights of Day 1 of the protest:

Burning of NPP flags:

In response to being blocked from proceeding towards the Jubilee House, the protesters started burning paraphernalia of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), including flags and banners, in front of police officers.

Led by one of the leaders of the Democratic Hub, Oliver Barker-Vormawor, the demonstrators taunted President Akufo-Addo as they burned the NPP paraphernalia.

Blocking of Road:

The protesters retaliated against the police blockade with a blockade of their own, even stopping the police from using a road.

A video showed the demonstrators using their bodies as a barricade to stop a bus full of police officers from using a particular road. The police turned back their bus, fearing any confrontation might escalate.

37 Road turns into a football park:

The 37 Road, one of the busiest roads in the nation’s capital, Accra, was turned into a football pitch by the protesters.

GhanaWeb’s team captured the protesters exhibiting their football skills in the middle of the road.

Presidential candidate hawking ‘pure’ water:

Kofi Koranteng, an independent presidential candidate for the pending 2024 general election, was among the notable Ghanaians who attended the demonstration.

GhanaWeb’s team captured the presidential candidate hawking beverages, including ‘pure’ water, among protesters.

Watch more videos from Day 1 of the protest below: