Event Summary
On 26 February 2026, the Ghana Police Service publicly stated that they were committed to enforcing a High Court order that prohibited a planned “Stop Galamsey” protest scheduled for 27 February 2026, underscoring tensions between public order concerns and civic mobilisation on environmental governance. The Accra High Court on 24 February 2026 granted an order restraining organisers from holding the demonstration, citing public safety and security considerations, particularly because the protest coincided with the President’s State of the Nation Address (SONA) in Parliament. The police affirmed that the directive had been properly served to the conveners and would be enforced according to the law.
Authorities clarified that enforcing the order was intended to prevent potential breaches of peace, while also emphasising their legal duty to balance constitutional rights with law enforcement responsibilities. The police urged the general public to comply with the court’s decision and avoid actions that could lead to unrest, even as they indicated a willingness to engage the organisers on agreeing a mutually convenient alternative date for the protest under the Public Order Act, which regulates public assemblies in Ghana. Organisers had contested social media claims that they had not been served with court documents, but police reiterated that due process had been observed. The development drew public attention as part of broader debates on how the state manages civic expression around contentious issues like illegal mining (galamsey) and environmental activism.