The FixTheCountry movement has announced plans for a two-day protest demanding immediate government action to tackle illegal mining, commonly known as galamsey, in Ghana.
The event will start with a vigil at Revolution Square on Sunday, 21 September, and continue with a march on the following public holiday, Monday, 22 September.
Oliver Barker-Vormawor, the movement’s lead convener, emphasized through social media the urgent need for collective efforts to protect the environment.
He highlighted that combating galamsey transcends political timelines, stating that environmental protection is a collective duty that is not limited to election periods or political affiliations. He invited people to join the vigil and march to raise awareness about this critical issue.
This planned protest comes amid increased scrutiny of President John Dramani Mahama’s recent remarks on illegal mining during a Presidential Media Encounter on 10 September.
President Mahama defended his cautious approach, suggesting that a state of emergency should be considered only as a last resort after all legal options have been fully explored.
In response, the Ghana Coalition Against Galamsey strongly criticized the President’s stance in a statement issued on 11 September and signed by Dr Kenneth Ashigbey, describing the government’s reaction as insufficient and lacking the sense of urgency needed to address the ongoing environmental crisis
