#OccupyJulorbiHouse: ‘You want to see me in cuffs because I said stop galamsey?’ – Ama Governor as she arrives in court

Lawyer and social media influencer, Elorm Ababio, also known as Ama Governor, along with over a dozen other protesters, appeared in an Accra court on Tuesday, September 24, 2024, following their arrests during the #OccupyJulorbiHouse demonstration which took place from the 21st to 23rd September 2024.

The arrests occurred at the 37 Roundabout, where demonstrators voiced concerns over illegal small-scale mining (galamsey) and economic mismanagement.

On September 22, a major scuffle broke out between some of the Democracy Hub protesters and the Ghana Police Service during the second day of the protest.

The scuffle led to the arrest of many of the protestors, including Ama Governor.

As Ama Governor was escorted to the courtroom, she was heard shouting, “Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery.”

She also accused the Ghana Police Service of detaining her and the other protestors without food or water for 48 hours and violating their privacy.

“You take videos and pictures without our consent so our parents panic. You want to see me in this. You want to see a 26-year-old lawyer in this because she said stop galamsey. That’s the only crime.

“You held me for over 48 hours, no food, no water, Y’all must be proud. You people are ridiculous. Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery,” she could be heard saying.

Lawyers for the protesters stated that they had not been informed of the specific reasons for the arrests. In court, the demonstrators were charged with conspiracy to commit a crime, namely unlawful assembly.

The protest began on September 21, 2024, with demonstrators clashing with the police, who worked to prevent any escalation. The second day turned violent as protesters defied police directives to avoid certain routes.

Before the demonstration, the police had announced a special operation, blocking major roads leading to the Jubilee House, the seat of government.

Several prominent Ghanaians joined the protest to express their dissatisfaction with the government’s failure to end illegal mining, which is devastating the country’s forests and water bodies, posing a serious threat to the lives of its citizens.

See the videos below: