By Ghanaians are set to launch a three-day protest starting Thursday, demanding government action against illegal gold mining and the release of 54 activists detained for demonstrating against the practice.
The planned demonstrations, dubbed #FreeTheCitizens rallies, come amid growing public outrage over the government’s handling of illegal mining, locally known as “galamsey,” and its impact on natural resources and rural livelihoods.
Joshua Buernortey Boye-Doe, one of the protest organizers, told The Associated Press, “We’re embarking on a protest to save our water bodies and to free our citizens. Most of them have been detained unlawfully.”
The protests, authorized by Ghanaian police, will culminate in a vigil on Saturday. They follow the arrest of 54 members of the Democracy Hub pressure group on September 22 and 23 for blocking roads and burning tires. The activists were remanded in custody for two weeks, sparking widespread criticism from the public and opposition politicians.
John Mahama, leader of the opposition National Democratic Congress and a candidate in the December 7 presidential election, condemned the arrests as “high-handed and an abuse of their rights” in a Facebook post.
Illegal mining has become a flashpoint issue in Ghana, Africa’s second-largest gold producer. The practice has led to the contamination of major rivers, destruction of forests and farmland, and severe health risks.
“This is not politically motivated,” Boye-Doe emphasized. “Water is a very essential resource, so we need to protect it.”
The issue has gained particular urgency as Ghana, a country of 33 million people, grapples with an economic crisis and rampant inflation that have led it to default on its foreign debt since 2022. Economic pressures have reportedly encouraged a growing number of cocoa producers to sell their lands to illegal mining operations.
