Ningo-Prampram Member of Parliament, Sam Nartey George, has thrown his support behind a planned naked demonstration in Accra, organized by a group identified as Katanga Fellowood, to protest against the pollution of rivers caused by illegal mining activities, commonly known as galamsey.
Sam George, in a passionate post on X, declared his willingness to join the protest, stating, “Count me in. Citizens, no matter how uncomfortable, must be allowed to have a voice. I’d put my money where my heart and mouth is. Let’s go!”
Katanga Fellowood has called on tertiary institutions to join the fight against galamsey, stressing that “Twitter boys can’t win this galamsey battle alone.”
They are preparing to mobilize Fellows from all 16 regions of Ghana to participate in the naked protest and are seeking financial support to cover logistics and transportation. Some netizens have already started contributing funds to aid their travel from Kumasi to Accra.
Despite the momentum, the Katanga Alumni Association has distanced itself from the demonstration, clarifying that they have no affiliation with Katanga Fellowood or the planned protest.
“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,” the association posted on X.
This development follows a recent 3-day protest led by Democracy Hub against illegal mining, which resulted in the arrest of several protesters. Those arrested face charges including conspiracy to commit a crime, unlawful assembly, causing damage, offensive conduct, and assaulting a public officer. So far, 50 individuals have been remanded by the Accra Circuit Court.
While the mining sector plays a crucial role in the economy, environmentalists and health professionals have raised alarms over the significant damage caused by illegal mining. Rivers such as the Bonsa and Pra have been heavily polluted, while forest reserves like the Tano Nimiri and Draw River have also suffered from the destructive effects of galamsey.