The board chair of the National Theatre, Nana Fredua Agyemang Ofori-Atta has called on protesters against illegal mining, commonly referred to as ‘galamsey,’ to shift their focus from the capital, Accra, to the actual mining communities.
According to him, protests at the mining sites will yield more effective results in the fight against the menace.
Speaking in an interview, the NPP stalwart clarified that while he supports the protests, he believes their current location and approach are not appropriate.
“Like I said, I have nothing against the protest, I just have a problem with the mode of operation. The mode of operation should not be Accra-based,” he told show host, Serwaa Amihere.
He further urged the protesters to engage directly with the mining communities, spreading awareness about the harmful impacts of illegal mining, rather than causing commotion in Accra, where galamsey activities are not prevalent.
Nana Fredua stressed that taking the protests to the areas where illegal mining is rampant would better address the root causes and compel action.
He also noted that many young people involved in illegal mining are driven by poverty and a desire for quick wealth.
“For example, when you talk to these young men who do it, they will ask you, when you came to their town, you were in a nice Porsche car, what’s wrong if they do same, do you understand, that is the mentality driving these things.”
His remarks come in the wake of the recent arrest and remand of 53 protesters from the Democracy Hub, who took to the streets of Accra in September to demonstrate against illegal mining. The protests sparked widespread public debate about the best strategies to tackle the menace.
Nana Fredua also criticized the reliance on academic research as a solution to galamsey, noting that the young people engaged in illegal mining are not influenced by academic papers.
“The solution is not in Accra or in writing papers. It’s about taking the message to the mining fields and making an impact there.”
When asked about the government’s alternative livelihood programs aimed at diverting youth from illegal mining, Nana Fredua acknowledged that President Akufo-Addo had introduced such programs, but claimed they were not well-received by Ghanaians. He attributed the continued prevalence of galamsey to the desperation of the youth to make money quickly.
Illegal mining remains a significant national challenge, with stakeholders, civil society organizations, and the government being urged to intensify efforts to save Ghana’s water bodies and lands from further destruction.
