Accra, Ghana – Supporters of the FixTheCountry Movement gathered at Revolution Square in Accra on Sunday evening to hold a vigil in anticipation of their planned protest march against illegal mining, commonly referred to as galamsey.
The vigil is part of a broader campaign led by the movement’s convenor, Oliver Barker-Vormawor, aimed at drawing national attention to the environmental devastation caused by illegal mining across Ghana. According to the organizers, the march seeks to amplify public concern over the degradation of water bodies and forests, and the lack of effective governmental action to curb the menace.
As the crowd grew in size, Deputy Director of Operations at the Presidency and Deputy General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mustapha Gbande, made an appearance at the vigil. However, his presence was met with resistance from the protesters, who expressed their desire for the event to remain non-partisan.
Protesters called on all political figures to stay away from the event, emphasizing their wish to maintain the integrity and independence of the movement. Many in the crowd made it clear that the demonstration was not aligned with any political party, and urged political actors to allow citizens to freely express their concerns without interference.
The vigil also served as a platform for criticism of the government’s current strategy in addressing galamsey. Some attendees argued that the focus on small-scale miners was misguided and called for the prosecution of high-profile individuals implicated in illegal mining operations, particularly those named in the report by former Minister for Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, Professor Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng.
The protest march against galamsey is expected to take place the following day, with organizers planning to present a petition to relevant authorities.
source: Tamale radio
