The #FreeTheCitizens and #SayNoToGalamsey demonstration, according to convener Adatse Brownson, is a passionate and urgent call to action against the environmental destruction taking place in the country, particularly due to illegal mining, known as galamsey.
Mr. Adatse’s statement aims to encourage other concerned citizens to participate in the ongoing three-day protest against galamsey.
“This is not just any protest. It is not just a march. It is not just a stand to put our voices out there. It is a desperate cry for survival against a deliberate attempt to destroy our lands, our water, and our lives,” the convener of the #FreeTheCitizens and #SayNoToGalamsey demonstration stated.
He further addressed the detained Democracy Hub protesters, who were reportedly denied food, water, and basic human rights by the police, who justified the arrests with charges of unlawful assembly, among other accusations.
However, Mr. Adatse condemned the treatment of the detainees by the police, describing it as cruel and unjustified.
“Look at how our comrades were abducted, kidnapped, detained, denied bail by the judiciary, and even denied food, water, and access to their legal representation. They moved people from their old cells to new cells just to create inconvenience for the lawyers. This is barbaric, this is tyrannical, and this is not a true democracy,” he sternly expressed.
Activists are demanding the immediate release of the 53 anti-galamsey protesters arrested during the Democracy Hub demonstration.
As a result, they have launched a three-day protest, which began on Thursday, October 3, 2024.
Running until Saturday, October 5, 2024, the demonstration will follow an approved route, starting from Legon Okponglo and culminating at the Black Star Square.
Participants will pass through key locations, including the Legon Stadium, Okponglo Traffic Light, Shiashie, Shangri-La, and Airport Traffic Light, with stops at the National Service Secretariat, the Electoral Commission Office, Parliament, and ending at Independence Square.
With strong momentum on social media, thousands of supporters are expected to join the march, amplifying calls for the government to take decisive action against the illegal mining practices ravaging Ghana’s forests and water bodies.