Kehinde Fajobi
Ghanaians took to the streets of Accra on Thursday, calling for an immediate end to illegal mining.
The demonstrators, who plan to continue their rallies for three days, also demand the release of 54 activists arrested last month for protesting against the environmental damage caused by illegal mining.
The issue has gained prominence as the country heads toward its December presidential elections, with illegal mining’s impact on natural resources and rural livelihoods at the center of public concern.
“If our leaders don’t take action now, future generations will pay the price,” said Delali Asante, a University of Ghana student, during the protest.
Dressed in red and black, the protesters marched through Accra, chanting the national anthem and singing patriotic songs. Many held up bottles filled with polluted water from the Pra and Birim rivers to draw attention to the devastating effects of illegal mining on the environment. These rivers, once essential sources of drinking water, have been heavily contaminated by the mining activities.
“Our water bodies are being destroyed, and soon we’ll have nothing left,” Asante added. “We can’t drink gold, and we can’t grow crops on poisoned land.”
Protest leader Henry Tagoe voiced similar concerns: “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.”
The protesters’ demands extend beyond environmental issues. They are also calling for the release of 54 members of the Democracy Hub, a pressure group arrested in September for blocking roads and burning tires. Their detention sparked public outrage, with many Ghanaians and politicians condemning the arrests.
Ghana, a country of 33 million and a leading gold and cocoa producer, has been grappling with an economic crisis and high inflation since 2022. The economic downturn has driven some cocoa farmers to sell their lands to illegal mining operations, exacerbating the destruction of agricultural land and pollution of water sources.
“We will not stop until we see real change,” Tagoe vowed. “This is not just about us. This is about protecting Ghana’s future.”
Labour unions have announced plans for a nationwide strike on October 10, pressing the government to take immediate action.