'Hypocrite' Mahama wants freedom for lawless protesters but failed to condemn their unlawful acts - Akwasi Nsiah

Media personality Akwasi Nsiah, has criticized former President John Mahama, describing him as "hypocrite" for not condemning the lawless actions of some protestors at the recent three-day demonstration organized by Democracy Hub.

According to the Adom TV host, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) flagbearer has no basis challenging the court's decision to remand the demonstrators for two weeks.

Mr. John Mahama had described on X (formerly Twitter) that, the two-week remand was "high-handedness and abuse of rights" on the part on the protesters.

"Remanding Democracy Hub demonstrators for two weeks is high-handed and an abuse of their rights," he wrote on X on Thursday, September 26.

Mr. Mahama indicated that the Ghanaian youth have the right to protest in defense of their future, particularly regarding critical issues like environmental destruction due to illegal mining.

However, speaking on the Badwam show on Friday, Akwasi Nsiah sharply chastised the former president, pointing out that he had the option of using the same tactics to denounce the demonstrators' choice to block the primary route that leads to the 37 Military Hospital.

"Why would someone consider closing a busy highway at 37? What would happen if someone needed to be brought to the facility for medical attention? When I hear individuals justifying such careless behavior, it pains my heart," he said.

"We didn't hear Mr. John Mahama condemning the protesters' blocking of the streets and their playing of football," said Akwasi Nsiah.

"It is therefore hypocritical to post a comment on Facebook denouncing the two weeks of detention that were granted to the demonstrators who caused disruption and traffic on that stretch," he fired.

The former president was also chastised by Akwasi, who said that he [JM] was a national asset and should always operate in the best interests of the country rather than his political party or any other groups.

On Tuesday, September 24, the Accra Circuit Court remanded 28 demonstrators from the Democracy Hub into police custody and remanded a further 11 protestors into prison detention.

The demonstrators were charged with conspiracy to commit a crime, namely unlawful assembly.

On Wednesday, 11 more protesters were remanded into police custody on charges of conspiracy to commit a crime, unlawful assembly, causing unlawful damage, offensive conduct conducive to the breach of peace, assault on a public officer, and additional charges.