The Media Coalition Against Galamsey has launched a red band protest aimed at raising awareness and applying pressure on the government to take decisive action against illegal mining activities, commonly referred to as galamsey.
This announcement was made by the convener of the coalition, Kenneth Ashigbey, during an interview on the Citi Breakfast Show with Bernard Avle on Citi FM on Wednesday, October 9.
Kenneth Ashigbey indicated that the upcoming protest is designed to be a strong show of solidarity with Organised Labour’s planned indefinite strike, which is set to commence on October 10.
The focus of both the protest and the indefinite strike centres around the government’s failure to address the serious and escalating issue of galamsey.
Illegal mining has long been a contentious issue in Ghana, posing grave threats to the environment, public health, and the future of communities affected by it.
Despite numerous public outcries and governmental assurances, illegal mining activities continue to devastate large tracts of Ghana’s natural resources, particularly water bodies, farmlands, and forests.
In response to the ongoing crisis and destructions, Organised Labour, along with its allied unions, declared an indefinite strike, demanding that the government implement a total and immediate ban on galamsey operations.
Kenneth Ashigbey encouraged participants to show their support by wearing red bands on their arms or heads and tying red bands on cars, motorbikes, bicycles, and other vehicles.
Participants are also urged to share photos and videos of their actions on social media with the hashtags #StopGalamseynow, #SaveOurLand, and #SaveOurFuture.
