Oliver Barker-Vormawor
As pressure mounts on Ghana to confront the devastating impact of illegal mining, known locally as galamsey, the Convenor of the #FixTheCountry Movement, Oliver Barker-Vormawor, has issued a sharp critique of the national response to the crisis.
In a statement released ahead of today’s protest, he accused both policymakers and regulators of focusing too narrowly on restoring polluted rivers while neglecting the more dangerous health risks posed by mercury contamination.
“Isn’t it crazy how in the entire galamsey conversation we are focused on how to turn brown rivers clear again? But no one is giving us a roadmap to how we deal with the mercury deposits in our foods and water now,” he said.
Barker-Vormawor questioned what plans exist for a national cleanup, a health risk assessment, and diagnostics for galamsey-related illnesses.
He also called for a clear strategy from the Ghana Health Service to address the looming public health implications of mercury exposure.
The activist described the current situation as deeply frightening for ordinary citizens, warning that “living in this country is so, so scary. Gold for a few, cancer for us all.”
His comments underscore the growing demand for a more comprehensive and health-focused approach to tackling the galamsey menace, which has ravaged water bodies, destroyed farmlands, and left communities exposed to toxic chemicals.
Barker-Vormawor confirmed that the protest would begin at Spanner Junction near the Accra Mall on Monday morning.
The demonstration is expected to draw citizens from across the capital as part of ongoing efforts to demand urgent government action on illegal mining and its consequences for the environment and human health.
