Demonstrators in Ghana are protesting the government’s handling of illegal small scale artisanal mining, which has wreaked environmental havoc across the West African country.
Illegal mining operations have displaced farmers and communities, sparking social unrest and creating tensions between local miners, large mining corporations, and foreign miners, especially those from China, involved in galamsey activities.
The government’s response to the crisis, initially focused on arrests and the suppression of demonstrators, failed to address the root causes of illegal mining. This approach led to widespread protests, with activists and citizens demanding an end to galamsey and the release of arrested protesters.
The environmental impact isn’t one that can be easily ignored, either.
Illegal mining has been a persistent challenge faced by successive Ghanaian governments, contaminating rivers, destroying forests, and severely threatening the country’s environment and public health.
The Ghana Water Company Limited reports that key water bodies, including the Pra, Ankobra, and Birim rivers, have become heavily polluted with toxic chemicals such as mercury and cyanide. Illegal mining operations have also devastated over 392,000 hectares of forest reserves.
The use of toxic chemicals like mercury and cyanide in gold extraction not only contaminates water bodies, making them undrinkable, but also poses grave health risks to the population.
Young activists from Democracy Hub view the stakes as both environmental and existential. “We are fighting for our future,” said one protester, currently in detention.
They accuse the government of betraying their generation by failing to address galamsey. “If we don’t act now, there will be nothing left for our children,” the protester said.
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Viral footage shows activists blocking roads
Illegal mining severely impacts the agriculture in Ghana, particularly cocoa production, which is a key part of the country’s economy.
Polluted water bodies lead to water scarcity and health problems for communities that rely on these sources for drinking and daily needs. The use of toxic chemicals like mercury and cyanide in mining operations contaminates water sources, affecting fish stocks and causing poisoning in humans through the food chain.
Viral footage of the demonstrations shows activists blocking roads, burning car tires, and obstructing traffic, actions that the police claim disrupted public peace. However, civil rights organisations, political leaders, and ordinary citizens argue that the authorities’ response is excessive.
Protesters have organized demonstrations under various hashtags like #StopGalamseyNow, #FreeTheCitizens, and #FixTheCountry, highlighting widespread dissatisfaction with the government’s handling of both environmental issues and civil liberties.
On October 10, 2024, Organized Labour in Ghana declared a strike to pressure the government into taking decisive action against illegal mining.
Protesters have called for a state of emergency in the affected areas, demanded the creation of special courts to expedite galamsey-related cases, and urged military intervention to dismantle illegal mining operations.
“Remanding Democracy Hub demonstrators for two weeks is high-handed and an abuse of their rights,” wrote John Dramani Mahama, the leader of the opposition National Democratic Congress on Facebook.
“The youth of Ghana have a right to engage in manifestations to protect their future especially in respect of key issues like the destruction of the environment through illegal mining. Draconian judicial decisions such as this won’t stop them from speaking out.”
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Unfolding issues a critical test for Ghana’s democracy
In an unprecedented move, a group of Ghanaians in the US gathered outside the United Nations headquarters in New York, holding placards that demanded the immediate release of the Democracy Hub protesters.
Amnesty International Ghana has also intervened, calling for an independent investigation into how the police handled the protests. “This pattern of abuse cannot continue. It is shrinking civic space in Ghana and setting a dangerous precedent ahead of the 2024 elections,” said Genevieve Partington, the organization’s country director.
However, some government officials and political figures defend the police’s actions despite the widespread condemnation.
Salam Mustapha, the National Youth Organiser for the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), said that the protesters “must be held accountable for their actions”.
“Blocking roads and disrupting public order is not how we resolve issues in a democracy. The rule of law must prevail, and those responsible for these criminal activities should face the law.”
The unfolding saga of the Democracy Hub protesters and their ongoing detention poses a critical test for Ghana’s democracy. The issue of illegal mining serves not only as an environmental crisis but also as a flashpoint for broader concerns about governance, corruption, and the rule of law.
“This isn’t just about galamsey anymore. It’s about silencing dissent and discouraging civic engagement,” said Noah Adamtey, a lawyer representing the detained protesters.
“The state is more interested in punishing these young people than addressing the very real issues they are raising.”
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