The convener of the anti-galamsey protest organized by the Democracy Hub, Oliver Barker-Vormawor, has once again been denied bail.
This marks the third time the Circuit Court has rejected his bail request since his arrest during the demonstration two weeks ago.
This decision came from the Circuit Court following opposition from the Attorney General’s Department. Barker-Vormawor was arrested two weeks ago during the protest, and both the Accra High Court and the Circuit Court had previously denied him bail.
Meanwhile, 21 Democracy Hub protesters have been granted bail were denied bail following an appeal by their lawyers against a Circuit Court decision to remand 53 protesters in police and prison custody.
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The accused were divided into two groups, with different courts handling each set.
The first group, led by Ama Governor, included eight others, namely: Emmanuel Gyan, Emmanuel Kwabena Addo, ZiblimYakubu, OhenebaPrempeh, Philip Owusu, KobinaAkisibik Desmond, Von Coffie, and SadikYakubu.
The court granted each of them bail of GH₵70,000 with two sureties. They are required to report to the police once a week and deposit their Ghana Cards at the court registry. Despite the State’s opposition, the judge sided with the defense lawyers and granted the bail request.
The second group included Oliver Barker-Vormawor and 12 others.The judge granted bail to 12 of them including Felicity Nelson, at GH₵20,000 with two sureties but denied Oliver Barker Vormawor bail. The judge cited concerns that Barker-Vormawormight commit another offense.
The court instructed the Circuit Court to begin prosecution within 72 hours, warning that if this does not happen, Barker-Vormawor may be granted bail.
The judge’s decision to deny Barker-Vormawor bail was influenced by the fact that he was already on bail for treason felony charges when he allegedly committed the offenses during the Democracy Hub protest.
His lawyer, Justice Srem Sai, argued that Barker-Vormawor had consistently appeared for his treason felony trial over the past three years and would not flee from misdemeanor charges.
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“For a man who hasn’t run away on a charge of treason how will he run away on a charge of misdemeanor?
“The ultimate question is whether he’ll present himself for trial. The overwhelming evidence will be that he has for the past 3 years been available for the charge of treason, he’ll make himself available for the current charges,” Dr Justice Srem Sai noted.
Nevertheless, the judge relied on Section 96(5c) of the Criminal Procedure Act (Act 30), which allows the court to refuse bail if there is a risk the accused will commit another offense.
In the meantime, appeals have been filed for the remaining 30 protesters who were remanded by the Circuit Court two weeks ago.
