Hundreds of Ghanaians took to the streets of Accra on Monday, led by the Generational Rights Protection Society, to protest the government’s inaction against illegal mining operations, commonly known as galamsey. The demonstrators, including students, environmental activists, and civil society members, marched from the Kwame Nkrumah Circle to Independence Square, demanding stricter law enforcement, immediate prosecution of illegal miners, and a halt to the environmental devastation plaguing Ghana’s rivers and forests.
The protest comes amid worsening pollution of major water bodies like the Pra, Ankobra, and Offin rivers, as well as deforestation in forest reserves due to unregulated mining. Activists accused political leaders of enabling the crisis through corruption and leniency, and called for the resignation of officials who have failed to act.
The Generational Rights Protection Society submitted a petition to the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, urging a full audit of mining licenses and tougher penalties for offenders. Monday’s march underscores mounting public pressure on President Mahama’s government to show concrete results after years of pledges to combat galamsey.
