I led a hunger strike to protest poor condition in cells – Baker-Vormawor
The Convener for the #FixTheCountry Movement, Oliver Barker-Vormawor, has opened up about why he led a protest in a police cell following his recent arrest during a demonstration organized by the Democracy Hub group against illegal mining, commonly known as “galamsey.”
Barker-Vormawor, a lawyer and PhD Research Student at the Faculty of Law, University of Cambridge, disclosed in an interview with Bola Ray on Starr FM on Thursday, October 24, monitored by GhanaWeb, that he led a hunger strike by the inmates to protest poor cell conditions, which he described as making life very uncomfortable for detainees.
“When I was in the cell, I stayed throughout the period. Before I left, we were considering how to draw attention to the issues people face in the cell. We decided to hold a hunger strike that Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. A letter was sent to the police hierarchy, and the media was informed about what was happening. So the police hierarchy rushed in that Friday, inviting me to leave because my bail had been granted. But I told them I would leave on Monday. They kept trying to process my bail quickly, but I insisted on staying with the individuals there,” he explained.
He continued, “On Friday, they wanted to see if the hunger strike would hold. The strike was in solidarity with everyone, both those who had support from family and those who didn’t. When families brought food, inmates told them to take it back. On Saturday morning, the police took one of the inmates to Nsawam Prison.”
Barker-Vormawor noted how uncomfortable the police became with their action and how he and his colleagues were prepared for possible repercussions.
“We discussed that the police might try to break up the hunger strike by moving people to different cells, so we were prepared. When they took one of us, we lined up and clapped as they led him out, singing gospel songs for about 30 minutes,” he said.
Eventually, unable to contain him, the police forcibly removed him from the facility and transferred him to the Dansoman Police Station until his release on October 21, 2024.
The Accra High Court granted bail to Oliver Barker-Vormawor, one of the accused in the Democracy Hub street protest case. He has been charged with multiple offenses, including stealing a police car key, conspiracy, unlawful assembly, causing unlawful damage, offensive conduct likely to breach the peace, assault on a public officer, and defacement of public property.
Initially, bail was denied, but on Wednesday, October 16, he was granted bail set at GH₵20,000 with two sureties. He is required to report to the police twice a week.
They strangled me, I couldn’t breathe, while others kicked me several times – Barker-Vormawor accuses police officers
Convener for #Fix The Country Movement, Oliver Barker-Vormawor has revealed how his life was nearly snuffed out by some police officers when he was being transferred from one police cell to another.
According to the lawyer and PhD Research Student at Faculty of Law, University of Cambridge, he was strangled and kicked several times by the police officers who had been assigned to move him to the Dansoman SSIT Flat Police station.
He said the police hierarchy had grown intolerant of him because he had led a hunger strike for some days to protest the terrible conditions at the cell.
“… I was lying down, about two hours after that some six individuals who were armed opened the cell and entered. They commanded everybody to go to a corner and ask me to come out. Again, I was expecting it because I know that they were deeply embarrassed by the conversation we are having. I come out and then one of the officers says where are your things. So, I asked him what is happening, where are you taking me? He says where are your things, I repeat my question. The next thing I know, I am being strangled and the other person was stepping my feet and the other person was knocking me in the head. I am saying this happened just in front of the cell and this goes on for about 15 minutes. I am trying to breathe, I am screaming and can’t breathe and everybody in the cell is watching.
“They issued a statement that while I was being transferred to another cell, I sustained injuries in the course of it. As this was happening, I am wearing boxers in the cell and a little white shirt, in fact there’s pictures of that blood stained. I am carried into this vehicle and it drives off, where I was going I had no idea and just keeps driving. Eventually, we end up at Dansoman SSNIT Flat police station. Then they opened the cell and put me in there. The cell was extremely dirty, it was a cell that had not been occupied. So, I asked the commander there if I could get a broom to sweep there and then they brought a gentleman. I was dripping, this hand I could not move it. So they bring the gentleman in to clean, and I said I would rather do it. So I take the broom from him.
The serial demonstrator said he was surprised that the Police took him to the hospital.
“Now I think it was one of the commanders, I could sense his discomfort through this, because this thing was led by the second in command at the Accra Regional Police Command. So the number of police officers that came there, about ten to twelve led me there. So they had a conversation and said they had to take me to the hospital. I was surprised they were taking me to the hospital, honestly.
“So they bring me out of the cell and took me to a hospital nearby where I was attended to, given tetanus injection, medication was written for me and I was bandaged. As we were going, I saw that people had come to the roadside, it only now that I’ve come out and I realise that had taken a picture of me in the vehicle where my hand is bandaged and I have plasters on my finger and then people started taking about it and they issue a statement that in the course of being transported I sustained injuries.”
Your govt has been development-oriented; footprints are visible everywhere – Chief of Kedzi to Bawumia
The Chief of Kedzi in the Volta Region, Joachim Acolatse, has praised the Akufo-Addo-Bawumia government for ensuring extensive development across all sectors in the country since taking office in 2017.
According to the Chief, the impact of these development efforts is visible everywhere for all citizens to see.
Speaking at a durbar when the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Flagbearer, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, paid a courtesy call as part of his campaign in the Volta Region, the Chief of Kedzi took the opportunity to celebrate the government and commend Dr. Bawumia for the many innovations he has introduced.
“We have been following keenly all your achievements and the bold solutions you propose for the future of this country. We are excited; your government has been very development-oriented. The impact of this development is everywhere to see, even here in Keta, and especially visible in Kedzi, where the Keta Port is located. We want to thank you for the preliminary work that has commenced.”
He added, “The Free SHS initiative is no exception, which is why the youth are all excited. Each one of us, including we the chiefs, has benefited from some of your innovative ideas. Many of us recognize the values you represent – integrity, honesty, and hard work. These are values we hold dear here in Anlo, and we share these values with you. I know this moral authority you stand for will propel you toward formal authority, and we believe you shall surely achieve it.”