The
lead
convenor
of
Fix
The
Country
has
finally
been
granted
bail
by
the
Accra
Circuit
Court
after
weeks
behind
bars.
Barker-Vormawor,
one
of
around
53
Democracy
Hub
members
arrested
during
the
rally,
which
took
place
between
September
21
and
September
23,
2024,
stayed
in
police
detention
even
though
all
other
participants
were
granted
bail.
Barker-Vormawor
was
this
morning
granted
bail
on
Wednesday,
October
16,
2024.
He
was
released
on
a
bond
of
GH¢20,000
with
two
sureties.
The
Accra
High
Court,
presided
over
by
Justice
Comfort
Tasiame,
earlier
dismissed
Barker-Vormawor’s
bail
application
on
October
7,
2024,
citing
the
need
for
more
investigation
and
fears
of
civil
disturbance
if
he
was
released.
The
judge
noted
that
Barker-Vormawor
was
already
on
trial
for
treason,
which
complicated
his
eligibility
for
bail
on
a
separate
allegation.
His
legal
team
contended
that
his
continuous
arrest
violated
his
constitutional
rights
to
free
expression
and
peaceful
assembly,
pointing
out
that
the
protests
were
nonviolent
and
focused
on
raising
awareness
about
the
negative
impacts
of
illegal
mining.
Kwaku
Asante
released
details
about
his
earlier
bail
denial
on
the
social
media
platform
X
on
October
7,
2024.
Asante
noted,
“The
High
Court
has
declined
to
issue
bail
to
Oliver
Barker-Vormawor,
Convenor
of
the
protest.
According
to
the
judge,
Oliver
is
currently
on
trial
for
treason,
and
what
assurance
is
there
that
if
he
is
granted
bail,
he
will
not
commit
another
offence?
Barker-Vormawor
who
was
captured
on
video
removing
keys
from
a
police
towing
car
incurred
the
wrath
of
some
people
especially
people
who
were
against
the
demonstration.
Qwame
Benedict
is
an
entertainment
editor
at
GhPage.com,
He
has
a
Degree
in
Public
Administration
and
Information
Studies
from
the
University
of
Ghana.
His
professional
career
in
entertainment
journalism
dates
back
to
2015
when
he
was
writing
for
the
now-defunct
EnterGhana.com.
He
also
got
the
chance
to
write
for
K-Hitz
radio
before
joining
GhPage
in
2017.