The Graduate Students’ Association of Ghana (GRASAG) has officially announced its participation in the upcoming protest organized by the Catholic Church against illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey, scheduled for October 11, 2024.
In a statement, GRASAG emphasized its solidarity with the Catholic Bishops Conference and the wider Catholic community in calling for more robust government action, as well as collaboration from civil society and all stakeholders, to safeguard Ghana’s natural resources, including lands and water bodies, from further destruction.
With a membership of over 100,000 intellectuals and future leaders, GRASAG expressed its concerns regarding the detrimental impact of galamsey on Ghana’s environment and economy. The organization highlighted that the ongoing illegal mining operations pose a significant threat to the future of Ghana and its citizens, particularly affecting students who rely on safe drinking water from university taps.
“We cannot stand idly by while our water bodies are poisoned, farmlands destroyed, and communities left vulnerable,” GRASAG stated, reiterating its commitment to responsible and accountable governance. The association invites all Ghanaians to join the peaceful demonstration to amplify calls for immediate and effective measures to combat illegal mining.
The Catholic Archdiocese of Accra, in collaboration with the Conference of Major Superiors of Religious, Ghana, and Catholic Lay Faithful and Professionals, will lead an Environmental Prayer Protest Walk Against Galamsey on the same day. According to a press statement issued by the church on October 4, the protest aims to raise awareness of the catastrophic effects of illegal mining in Ghana and to demand urgent action from the government to address this pressing issue.
