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The Member of Parliament (MP) for Suame, John Darko, has expressed his disapproval of the initial prosecution of social activist Ama Governor and #FixTheCountry convener Oliver Barker-Vormawor, stating that the legal action was unnecessary and politically unwise.
Speaking on The Big Issue on Channel One TV, Darko, who is also a legal practitioner, argued that some cases should never have been taken to court, as they risk turning the accused into “martyrs.”
> “As a lawyer, I believe some cases shouldn’t be prosecuted. In fact, not even as a lawyer, but as a politician, I think that when you prosecute some cases, you give these people a martyr tag. Ama Governor and these people shouldn’t have been prosecuted,” he said.
The Attorney General has officially dropped all charges against several individuals associated with the Democracy Hub protests, which took place in Accra between September 21 and September 23, 2024, as part of an anti-galamsey demonstration.
Among those freed were activist Oliver Barker-Vormawor and social media influencer Elorm Ama Governor-Ababio, popularly known as Ama Governor, who participated in the protest along with 50 others.
The decision to withdraw the case was formally submitted to the Accra Circuit Court in January 2025 under nolle prosequi, effectively dismissing all charges and granting the accused full freedom. A court document signed by Attorney General and Minister of Justice Dr. Dominic Ayine confirmed that the state would no longer pursue the case.
While acknowledging that there was some initial justification for legal action, particularly due to damage to public property, Darko maintained that politically, the prosecution was a miscalculation.
> “I thought that politically it wasn’t a smart decision to prosecute them.”
He further suggested that the government’s move to withdraw the charges was part of a broader strategy to demonstrate impartiality, ensuring that the legal withdrawals were not perceived as benefiting only members of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC).
> “I feel that the withdrawal of these cases was to show the public that we are not only withdrawing cases against NDC people. But anyways, I think it is okay that these cases have been withdrawn. Theirs didn’t really cause financial loss to the state, so it’s okay.”
Despite supporting the decision to drop the charges, the Suame MP cautioned Ama Governor and Barker-Vormawor to be mindful of their future actions.
> “I hope and believe that Ama Governor and Vormawor will take this as a lesson and at least try to conduct themselves well. They are lawyers, and I hope they will make the profession proud.”
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