Oliver Barker-Vormawor Denied Bail by High Court Over Concerns of Reoffending

The General Jurisdiction Division of the Accra High Court, lawyer Oliver Barker-Vormawor as one of the key covenors in Galamsey Protest Case has been refused bail.

The court had indicated why it is skeptical to release Barker-Vormawor who is on trial for treason as he is likely to engage in other serious violations upon release. This is within the context of the ongoing Democracy Hub case; where Barker-Vormawor is one among 53 persons who are currently facing several charges including conspiracy, unlawful assembly and offensive conduct.

The presiding judge observed that Barker-Vormawor is charged with one other offence of which his colleagues are not charged with and this complicates the case much deeper.

Regardless, the judge instructed that the Accra Circuit Court ought to be called back to sit within seventy-two hours in order to entertain the matter of Barker-Vormawor. Should the Circuit Court restrain itself from complying with such orders, bail may be revisited and may be granted to him by the High Court.

The allegations levelled against Barker-Vormawor and the rest of the accused relate to a demonstration that was held by Democratic Hub, focusing on the issues of illegal mining, locally known as “galamsey” and its effects on the environment.

The group is charged for crimes varying from unlawful assembly and vandalism to attack of government officials.