Fifty-four (54) individuals have been arrested and detained by Ghana’s police for participating in the anti-galamsey protests held from September 21st to September 23rd 2024.  The protests named “Re-Occupy Julorbi” was organized in response to the growing dangers of illegal mining in the country.

The detained protesters have been denied contact with their families, food, water, bail, and legal counsel. In response, the online campaign #FreeTheCitizens has gained traction, in attempts to call on the government to release them.

Galamsey has severely polluted Ghana’s water sources, leading to poor-quality water in households across the country. Affected communities have also reported birth defects and chemical poisoning from the illegal mining activities.

What Led to the Anti-Galamsey Protest?

The “Re-Occupy Julorbi” protest is not the first of its kind. It follows a similar protest held around the same time last year. 

Last year’s protest, which was organized by Democracy Hub, took place on September 21st, 2023 coinciding with the birthday of the first President of Ghana, Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah. 

It was held to mainly address the economic hardships and rising taxes. Ghanaians were frustrated by the higher taxes with no visible improvements in public services. Meanwhile, members of the ruling government and their families were seen living lavish lifestyles as ordinary citizens struggled daily. 

The name ‘Julorbi” was chosen because it rhymes with “Jubilee House,” the president’s official residence. “Julorbi” combines two Ga words; “Julor” meaning thief and “Bi” meaning child, implying “child of a thief.”

The first protest was largely successful with a lot of people attending the protest for the three days it was held. Several arrests were made, but those detained were released after proving they had not engaged in violence or vandalism. 

In response to growing concerns over galamsey, Democracy Hub organized another protest this year, focusing on pressuring leaders, especially the president, to take stronger action against galamsey.

The Re-Occupy Julorbi protest was scheduled for from September 21 to September 23, 2024. Although organizers gave three months’ notice, the police obtained a court injunction three days before the event. Despite this, citizens took to the streets of Accra to proteste galamsey. 

At the main protest site, in front of the 37 military hospital, heavily armed police were present. Videos shared by protesters showed police arresting individuals who were peacefully holding placards and walking. There were no signs of violence from the protestors in videos and images shared from the protests.  

Scenes from the protests

Why Was #FreetheCitizens Trending after the Anti-Galamsey Protest?

At the end of the protest, several people were reported missing. Over 50 individuals were arrested and held for 48 hours without food, water, or legal counsel. 

They were remanded in police custody and denied bail including women, children, and bystanders swept up by the police.  

The police accused the protestors of blocking roads, dismantling barriers, and obstructing traffic.  Among those arrested were Oliver Barker Vormawor, a lead organizer, humanitarian and brand influencer, GlesnnSamm and Ama Governor, known for her views on LGBTQ+ rights in Ghana, were amongst the arrested. A pregnant woman, Vera Lamptey, was also reportedly detained.

The arrested individuals faced charges of assaulting public officers, unlawful assembly, offensive conduct, and property damage despite video evidence showing otherwise. They were denied communication with family, bail, and legal counsel. Some lawyers, with difficulty, located the court venues for trials, with assistance from people who helped transport them via motorbikes.   

After a court hearing, a judge ordered that the arrested individuals be held in prison for two weeks before their next court appearance. 

Civil societies and opposition leader, John Dramani Mahama, have called for the release of the protesters. The hashtag #FreeTheCitizens has been trending, with many expressing outrage at the arrests and demanding their release. 

Many believe that this is a government tactic to punish protesters and deter future demonstrations. Critics argue that in a democratic country like Ghana, no one should be arrested for demonstrating, nor should they be denied bail or legal representation.  

Some flyers posted on social media to support #FreeTheCitizens

How Citizens Have Used Social Media to Amplify the Anti-Galamsey Protests?

Social media has played a powerful role in amplifying the protests. Beyond the trending hashtag #FreeTheCitizens, it has allowed citizens to inform the international community about events in Ghana. 

Popular Ghanaian influencers like Princess Burland, Gisela Amponsah, and Efia Odo have used Instagram, Facebook, and Snapchat to share updates. Some celebrities like Nadia Buari have also used their platforms to share their displeasure in what is going on. 

The #FreeTheCitizens hashtag has gained widespread attention, drawing responses from celebrities like Chance The Rapper and TikToker, Dylan.

Some African Americans,  who recently gained citizenship in Ghana, voiced their disappointment in what was going on. 

X user, Soulbird, sharing a picture of her citizenship ceremony, tweeted, “President Nana Akuffo Addo, 5 years ago I was one of 126 diasporans who you conferred citizenship to. We came here because this is our ancestral home and birthplace of the Pan-African dream. To suppress peaceful protests is to suppress that dream. #FreeAmaGovernor #FreeTheCitizens.”

Ghanaians in the diaspora also joined the cause. On September 25th, Ghanaians in New York gathered at Bryant Park to protest galamsey and demand the release of the detained protesters. 

Scenes from the protest in New York

The Government’s Response to the Anti-Galamsey Protests? 

The government has largely supported the arrests made during the protests. Ghana’s Information Minister, Fatimatu Abubakar, responded to a video by CNN correspondent Larry Madowo explaining the protests and the arrests. 

In her response, the Minister claimed that protesters committed acts of vandalism, attacked police, and disrupted public order, justifying the police’s actions. Dr. Ayew Afriyie, Campaign Coordinator for the Vice President’s Presidential campaign, also stated that the ruling party has no intention of stopping those involved in illegal mining.

Meanwhile, President Akufo-Addo has remained silent on the matter. As news of the arrests broke out, he was in New York receiving an award  and delivering his last speech at the UN General Assembly. 

The ruling government has shown no remorse over the arrests or galamsey, further escalating tensions among the youth. Many are frustrated, believing illegal mining has expanded under this administration. 

The Ghana Mining Repository revealed that 1,696 mining licenses have been issued in the last eight years. Since 2017, under Akufo-Addo’s government, there has been a 2,800% increase in mining licenses, compared to just 57 licenses issued from 1995 to 2016.

With this new information, many Ghanaians feel fed up with the government’s lack of concern for its citizens.  

What Comes After the Anti-Galamsey Protests? 

An unnamed group has notified the Ghana Police of its plans for peaceful protests from October 3rd to October 5th, 2024. 

They aim to protest illegal mining and demand the release of the detained protesters. 

“Citizens who exercised their right to protest peacefully against galamsey have been unlawfully arrested. Among those arrested were pregnant women, minors, and individuals with critical health conditions. These protesters were denied food, water, legal representation, and medical care for over 48 hours, and have since been remanded without bail for two weeks. This blatant violation of their constitutional rights is unacceptable and must be addressed immediately,” their statement to the police read. 

The upcoming protest has gained significant public support, with participation expected to exceed that of the Re-Occupy Julorbi protest.

Students and alumni from the Unity hall at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology and Commonwealth Hall at the University of Ghana have confirmed their participation in the protest.

These recent events have only fueled public resolve. People are more determined to express their frustrations with the ruling government. 

Many hope the government will respond to demands of the protesters’ release and address the growing unrest in the nation.  

Poster of upcoming protest

What is Galamsey and Why is Ghana Battling it? 

Ghana has been fighting illegal gold mining, known as galamsey, for a long time. ‘Galamsey’ is a Ghanaian word that refers to illegal gold mining done by large and small scale miners. 

Galamseyers, as they are called, mainly operate in Ghana’s middle belt, rich in gold deposits. They dig pits on lands and near water bodies, polluting them and harming nearby residents. Both locals and foreigners including the Chinese, Burkinabes and Ivorians, often lead these operations. 

Unemployment among youth is a key reason people engage in galamsey. Locals and foreigners with both equipment and money often hire young men and women in the rural areas to work for them. Some older people sell their lands to illegal mining companies because they lack other income sources, even though their payment is usually low.

Corruption also fuels galamsey. Some political and traditional rulers own illegal mining companies. Foreign nationals often bribe government officials to allow their illegal mining activities, causing leaders to act slowly against galamsey. 

A typical galamsey site in Ghana

An excavator on a galamsey site

How has Ghana Fought Against Galamsey in the Past? 

Since 1989, the government of Ghana has worked to fight galamsey. 

The Small-scale Gold Mining Act was created to legalize artisanal mining and curb illegal activities. In 2006, the Minerals and Mining Act reserved small scale mining for Ghanaians and introduced alternate livelihood programmes for those reliant on galamsey. The lack of income was identified as one of the main reasons people engaged in galamsey. 

In 2013, a joint task force composed of the military and other security personnel was formed, resulting in the deportation of 4,500 Chinese miners.

When Nana Akufo-Addo became president in 2017, he pledged to risk his presidency to fight galamsey. He established an inter-ministerial committee on illegal mining that year. The ministry was later dissolved and cited by many as a failure. Since then, the government has launched costly interventions like deploying soldiers to arrest illegal miners, including Operation Halt, Operation Vanguard, Operation Flush Out, and Galamstop. 

Unfortunately, these government efforts have proven unsuccessful in stopping the effects of galamsey in the country.

A water body affected by galamsey

Water samples taken from galamsey-affected waterbodies

The Dangers of Galamsey

Galamsey is dangerous and negatively impacts people living near mining sites. Illegal miners often encroach on lands, destroying homes in the process. Additionally, some people have died after falling into hidden pits dug for gold extraction. 

A significant event in Ghana’s mining history was the collapse of an illegal mine in Dompaose, Ashanti region. The collapse caused the death of 18 workers, including 13 women who served as porters for the mine.

Beyond the hazards of illegal mining, its environmental impact, especially on water, is particularly concerning. 

Principal Research Scientist of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) Water Institute Organization (WIO), Anthony Yaw Karikari revealed that Ghana could face water shortages by 2030, potentially requiring the country to import water for survival. 

The Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana (PSG) has also warned that they may have to resort to importing water to produce medicines in the country. 

Toxic chemicals like mercury and cyanide are polluting most water bodies, which are situated in the middle and lower belt of the country, where galamsey operations are prevalent. 

The Ghana Water Company sources water from these water bodies and distributes it to many homes across the country. Due to the effects of galamsey, the water sometimes contains traces of chemicals, and some residents report that their tap water appears muddy. This indicates contamination from sand stirred up by mining activities.  

Reports from the Ghana Water Company have identified galamsey as a significant cause of the poor water quality distributed to homes. 

In areas heavily affected by galamsey, illnesses have been reported, including birth defects, mercury poisoning, and as well as respiratory diseases. 

Ghana has also lost 38% of its forest cover, and 38 forest reserves being destroyed due to galamsey. 

River Pra joining the sea

Effects of galamsey on the Ankobra river