The Katanga Alumni Association has officially distanced itself from a planned naked demonstration in Accra, organized by a group identified as Katanga Fellowood, which aims to protest the pollution of river bodies caused by illegal mining, also known as galamsey.
In a post on X, the Katanga Fellowood group called for tertiary institutions to join the fight against galamsey, stating that “Twitter boys can’t win this galamsey battle alone” and hinting at their readiness for the protest.
The group further requested support to secure logistics and transport members from all 16 regions of Ghana for the naked demonstration in Accra. Some netizens have reportedly started contributing financially to facilitate their travel from Kumasi to Accra.
However, the Katanga Alumni Association has made it clear that they are not associated with this event, writing in a statement on X: “The Katanga Alumni Association does not recognize Katanga Fellowood and is not affiliated with any demonstrations or contributions related to it. Participation is voluntary and at your own risk. Katanga Alumni is not responsible for any actions or outcomes.”
This development comes on the heels of a 3-day protest led by the Democracy Hub against illegal mining activities. Several individuals were arrested during the protest and charged with various offenses, including unlawful assembly, causing damage, and assaulting a public officer. As a result, 50 demonstrators have been remanded by the Accra Circuit Court.
While the mining sector contributes to the economy, the environmental toll of illegal mining has raised concerns, with rivers like the Bonsa and Pra suffering severe pollution from toxic chemicals. Forest reserves, such as the Tano Nimiri and Draw River, have also been heavily affected by these activities.