By Salifu Bagulube Moro,Samuel Obour
Copyright yen
The Democracy Hub group has launched a protest demanding action against illegal mining, known locally as galamseyProtesters held a vigil outside Jubilee House and plan to present a petition to the governmentOliver Barker-Vormawor insisted the NDC must end galamsey before electing a 2028 flagbearer
The Democracy Hub group has embarked on yet another protest to demand decisive action against the devastating effects of illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey in Ghana.
The protest began with a vigil on Sunday, September 21, 2025, opposite the Jubilee House at 3 p.m., where Ghanaians from all walks of life converged to pile pressure on the government to end the widespread environmental damage and socio-economic crisis caused by galamsey.
Dubbed #StopGalamseyNow, the protest is expected to end on Monday, September 22, with a march from the Accra Mall through to the Jubilee House, where a petition will be presented to the government.
According to the organisers, the march was intended to draw attention to the destruction of Ghana’s environment and water bodies caused by galamsey.
Even before the protesters submit their petition to the president, Osagyefo Oliver Barker-Vormawor, convenor of the Democracy Hub’s #StopGalamseyNow protest, has tabled his demands before the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) administration.
In a Facebook post, Barker-Vormawor demanded the NDC end the illegal mining menace before proceeding with the election of a new flagbearer for the 2028 elections.
“Okay, here is our demand. NDC must end galamsey before electing a new flagbearer! Deal? We won’t go into another election with galamsey on the ballot again. It ends here,” he wrote on his Facebook page
He insisted that the galamsey crisis is a matter of utmost importance that requires immediate and decisive action from the ruling party.
Read the post below:
Ghanaians react to Oliver’s anti-galamsey demands
The post made by Osagyefo Oliver Barker-Vormawor has sparked mixed reactions on social media, with many Ghanaians thronging the comment section to share their views
YEN.com.gh compiled a few of the reactions below:
@Manasseh Jesword Nyasem said:
“Sure, this is not difficult to abide by, for the benefit of Ghanaians.”
@Dzorkpey Martin also said:
“But sir… have you proposed any action the government can take to end this thing because it’s affecting all of us…. Or is your agenda different?”
@Anokye Douglas commented:
“But what will be the NPP message again if NDC should end galamsey? Wo y3 bad paa, you want to finish NPP kwatakwata.”
@Abigail Williams also commented:
“8 years in position, you couldn’t stop it , only in months you are behaving like a 9-month-old baby.”
Atta Mills’ brother backs anti-illegal mining demonstration
In a related development, YEN.com.gh reported that Cadman Atta Mills threw his support behind the #StopGalamseyNow protest against illegal mining in Ghana.
He reacted emotionally to the devastation of the Bonsa River by galamsey activities in a once cocoa-rich area.
The protest on September 21 and 22 is being organised by Oliver Barker-Vormawor and Fix the Country group.
Proofreading by Samuel Gitonga, copy editor at YEN.com.gh.
Source: YEN.com.gh
