{
  "id": 304190,
  "title": "Respect protesters whether you agree with them or not – Kofi Bentil tells Ghanaians",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/08/respect-protesters-whether-you-agree-with-them-or-not-kofi-bentil",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-08-08T09:34:48.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "MyJoyOnline Ghana",
    "slug": "myjoyonline-ghana",
    "url": "https://www.myjoyonline.com/respect-protesters-whether-you-agree-with-them-or-not-kofi-bentil-tells-ghanaians/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Ghanaians, according to senior lawyer and IMANI Africa Vice-President Kofi Bentil, should respect citizens who protest, even if they disagree with the protesters' political views or demands. Bentil emphasized that protesters and activists safeguard democratic freedoms, as they often risk their safety to challenge authority and expand civic liberties.\n\nAddressing the NPP's \"Democracy Under Attack\" demonstration in Accra, Bentil urged citizens to respect protesters just because they may not agree with their stance. He argued that activism plays a crucial role in democracy by testing the boundaries of political power and ensuring that citizens' freedoms are not gradually restricted.\n\nBentil warned that democracy does not always face sudden attacks, but rather, it can be weakened gradually through actions that might appear insignificant at first. He cited historical examples of Hitler and Mussolini to illustrate how democratic principles were initially used to gain power, followed by the undermining of constitutionalism.\n\nHe also shared his personal experience during the NPP demonstration, where he was assaulted by police officers while trying to get close to the Jubilee House gate. Bentil stressed that citizens should exercise democratic rights without having to support a particular political cause.\n\nHe stressed that democracy tolerance requires people to respect protesters regardless of their political identity, ensuring that the right to protest is treated as a constitutional freedom and not dependent on public approval.",
  "summary": "Senior lawyer and Vice-President of IMANI Africa, Kofi Bentil, has urged Ghanaians to respect citizens who take to the streets to demonstrate, even when they disagree with the protesters’ political views or demands.",
  "key_points": [
    "Ghanaians must respect protesters regardless of political stance",
    "Protests safeguard democratic freedoms and civic liberties",
    "Activism tests political power boundaries and prevents gradual restrictions"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "MyJoyOnline Ghana",
        "title": "We have to stay at the forefront and expand the frontiers of freedom – Kofi Bentil",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/08/we-have-to-stay-at-the-forefront-and-expand-the-frontiers-of-freedom",
        "published": "2026-08-08T09:37:28.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}