The Generational Rights Protection Society is ramping up pressure on the government to take decisive action against illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey.
The protest, led by media personality Okatakyie Afrifa-Mensah, seeks to amplify concerns over the government’s handling of the galamsey menace and to propose a more aggressive approach to ending it.
According to the group, illegal mining continues to wreak havoc on communities and the environment, with little meaningful intervention from authorities.
The demonstrators, predominantly dressed in red and black, gathered at the Obra Spot at Circle for the start of their march, which is set to end at the Jubilee House.
Carrying placards with inscriptions such as “Blood, Gold, Greed!” and “Stop Galamsey Now!”, the protesters demonstrated high energy and determination.
Speaking to JoyNews, one protester expressed her frustration, citing the lack of potable water due to galamsey activities. “I joined this demonstration because there is no potable water where I work. Galamsey must stop,” she said.
The convenor of the protest, Okatakyire Mensah Afrifa, also shared his frustrations. He argued that although the President has only been in office for four months, that should not be an excuse for the continued devastation caused by galamsey, including rising cases of kidney diseases and loss of lives among Ghanaians.
He pointed out that when President Mahama came in, within the same four-month period, he was able to send a bill to Parliament to establish a Gold Board.
He added, “When the current President came in, he was able to quickly take steps that benefited himself and his government. So it’s all about the scale of preferences and priorities.”
