In Ghana, police have arrested Oliver Barker-Vormawor and 44 other protesters during a demonstration in Accra against illegal gold mining, commonly known as galamsey. The protest, organized by the group Democracy Hub, aimed to demand stronger action from the government to tackle the devastating environmental impact of illegal mining.
The protest, which coincided with the birthday of Ghana’s first president, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, was scheduled from September 21 to 23. It focused on raising awareness about the destruction of water bodies and forest reserves caused by illegal mining activities.
This demonstration followed last year’s #FixTheCountry movement, which also involved protests against economic hardships in Ghana. This time, the group chose to address the environmental crisis linked to illegal gold mining.
Despite a court injunction attempting to halt the protest, the demonstrators proceeded with their plans to march within 500 meters of the government’s seat. Police responded by deploying thousands of officers, blocking key streets around central Accra. The heavy police presence led to significant disruptions for city commuters.
As the protest progressed, the police accused the demonstrators of obstructing traffic and engaging in “uncivil and un-Ghanaian actions.” By the second day, 42 people were arrested, including a 62-year-old woman and a 10-year-old child. The police also removed a van carrying food and water for the protesters, claiming it was obstructing traffic, a claim the protesters denied.
During the towing of the van, Barker-Vormawor removed the keys from the police vehicle and threw them away, an act that led to his arrest. He later explained that he had acted within the law to prevent his property from being unlawfully taken.
As the video of this incident went viral, police took further action, arresting more protesters, including Barker-Vormawor. The Democracy Hub organizers accused the police of denying the detained protesters access to legal representation, food, water, and sanitary items, and for not revealing the locations where they were being held.
On the third day, fewer people participated in the protest due to fear of arrest. The police confirmed the arrest of Barker-Vormawor on the final day of the demonstration.
Civil society groups, including the Economic Fighters League (EFL), condemned the police for using excessive force against peaceful protesters. They argued that the police were protecting corrupt interests instead of defending citizens’ rights.
Barker-Vormawor, a lawyer and PhD student at the University of Cambridge, has been an advocate for human rights, constitutional reform, and police accountability in Ghana. His past activism includes leading the call for justice following violence during a protest in Ejura in 2021.
Illegal Mining Crisis in Ghana
Over the past month, the issue of illegal gold mining, or galamsey, has sparked significant concern in Ghana. Water bodies have been polluted with dangerous chemicals, turning the water brown and making it unsafe for consumption. The Ghana Water Company has warned that it cannot treat the contaminated water, and experts have raised fears that Ghana may face severe water shortages by 2030.
The environmental damage caused by galamsey has led to health problems in affected areas, including an increase in deformities among babies and a rise in cancers linked to chemicals in the water and soil.
In response, several civil society groups, unions, and media organizations have called for an immediate ban on small-scale gold mining and a declaration of a state of emergency. They have also urged presidential candidates in the upcoming elections to commit to addressing the crisis if elected.
