Demonstrators from the three-day #FreeTheCitizens and #StopGalamseyNow protest have called on the government, specifically the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, to impose an immediate ban on all forms of mining in Ghana.
The group highlighted the severe destruction caused by illegal mining, commonly known as galamsey, and emphasized the catastrophic impact on the environment and the lives of Ghanaians.
Speaking on the second day of the protest, Friday, October 4, the lead convener underscored the urgency of the situation, stressing that the demonstration was driven by the imminent threat galamsey poses to the country, especially to the youth.
“As we said yesterday, we’re here today to demand an end to all forms of galamsey and unsafe legal and illegal mining activities that continue to destroy our water bodies and lands,” the convener said.
He urged the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources to take immediate action, calling for a complete halt to both legal and illegal mining activities that are causing widespread environmental damage.
The group also expressed dissatisfaction with a recent statement from the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) regarding reduced water turbidity levels in the Central Region. They argued that this statement failed to address the larger issue of the government’s commitment to combating galamsey, dismissing it as mere political rhetoric.
