On Thursday, October 3, many students and residents of Accra, Ghana’s capital, gathered to protest against illegal gold mining, known locally as “galamsey.” They carried bright placards and chanted for the government to immediately stop these harmful activities.
The protesters, mostly university students, want the government to release 54 activists who were detained during a previous protest. They plan to hold rallies for three days to make their voices heard.
The issue of illegal mining has become very important as Ghana approaches its presidential elections in December. Delali Asante, a student from the University of Ghana, said, “If our leaders don’t take action now, future generations will pay the price.”
Wearing red and black, the protesters sang the national anthem and danced in the streets. Many brought bottles of polluted water from the Pra and Birim rivers, which are heavily affected by illegal mining. “Our water bodies are being destroyed, and soon we’ll have nothing left,” Asante expressed. “We can’t drink gold, and we can’t grow crops on poisoned land.”
Henry Tagoe, one of the protest leaders, stated, “We cannot sit by and watch as our rivers and water bodies are poisoned with mercury. Illegal mining is destroying our environment and our future.”
Labour unions are also joining the call for change, planning to start a nationwide strike on October 10 to push for urgent action from the authorities.
The protesters are demanding the release of the 54 members of the Democracy Hub, who were arrested on September 22 and 23 for blocking roads and burning tires during their demonstration. This has sparked outrage among the public and politicians alike.
Ghana has faced economic struggles, including high inflation and issues with foreign debt, which have led some cocoa farmers to sell their lands to illegal mining operations. These mining activities not only take away valuable agricultural land but also pollute rivers and water supplies with harmful chemicals.
Tagoe concluded with determination, “We will not stop until we see real change. This is not just about us. This is about protecting Ghana’s future.”
