By Seli Baisie
The Attorney General of Ghana has officially dropped all charges against a group of individuals linked to the Democracy Hub protests, including activist Oliver Barker-Vormawor and social media personality Elorm Ama Governor-Ababio, popularly known as Ama Governor.
This decision, filed under nolle prosequi—a legal term meaning the case will no longer be pursued—was presented to the Circuit Court in Accra in January 2025. It means that all accused persons are now free, bringing the legal battle to an end.
The protesters were arrested after taking part in demonstrations and were later granted bail, except for Barker-Vormawor, who was held due to separate treason-related charges. Their arrests had sparked public outrage, with many Ghanaians and civil society groups arguing that prosecuting them threatened freedom of expression and the right to protest.
The court document, signed by Attorney General and Minister of Justice Dominic Akuritinga Ayine, confirmed that the government would no longer continue the case.
The individuals named in the case included Oliver Barker-Vormawor, Michael Amofa, Nii Ayi, Frederick Boateng, Deportee Iddrisu Yusif, Wendell Isaac Yeboah, Fanny Otoo, Samuel Samakor, and Felicity Nelson. Ama Governor, who faced a separate charge, was also cleared under this decision.
The Democracy Hub protests, held in 2024, aimed to demand greater transparency and accountability from the government. Many people had criticized the arrests, believing they were politically motivated. With the charges now dropped, supporters of the protesters see this as a victory for democratic rights in Ghana.
