Seven years ago, a prominent member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Gabby Otchere-Darko, voiced a strong stance on the battle against illegal mining, also known as galamsey.
In an X post on April 6, 2017, he wrote, “Posterity shall not forgive Akufo-Addo and our generation if we don’t win the war against galamsey.”
Fast forward to today, the fight against illegal mining is still far from over, with severe consequences for the environment and public health.
Environmentalists and health professionals have continuously raised concerns about the devastating impact of galamsey, particularly the pollution of major water bodies. Rivers such as the Bonsa in the Western Region and the Pra in the Ashanti Region have been severely contaminated by toxic chemicals used in mining.
Additionally, forest reserves like the Tano Nimiri in the Western North Region and the Draw River in the Western Region have been extensively degraded.
In response to the ongoing crisis, Organised Labour is scheduled to meet on Tuesday, October 1, to finalize its decision on a potential nationwide protest against the government’s perceived inaction on galamsey.
Several unions and associations had previously indicated their readiness to protest if President Akufo-Addo did not declare a state of emergency by the end of September to address the ongoing destruction of rivers and forest reserves by illegal miners.
