A Rocha Ghana has called on the nation to honour the lives of eight men who perished while on a mission to advance sustainable mining and environmental protection in Ghana.
In a statement on Thursday 7 August, the organisation declared, “The best legacy is action,” urging Ghanaians to move beyond sympathy and take collective steps to end illegal mining (galamsey).
The eight, including Minister for Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation Dr Alhaji Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed and Defence Minister Edward Omane-Boamah were heading to Obuasi for the launch a transformative program rooted in responsible cooperative mining, skills development, and community empowerment.
Their tragic loss, A Rocha said, must become a turning point in the fight to protect Ghana’s rivers, forests, and rural livelihoods.
“They believed in a Ghana where livelihoods do not come at the cost of our rivers, forests, and communities,” the statement read. “Their passing must not be in vain.”A Rocha Ghana is calling for national unity and resolve to confront the growing threat of illegal mining, which continues to degrade ecosystems and endanger public health. The NGO insists that words are no longer enough.
“Let this be the moment we choose to end illegal mining—not with talk, but with resolve,” it added. “We owe them nothing less.”The tribute, issued in honour of the fallen heroes, reinforces the urgency for bold environmental governance and citizen action. As the nation mourns, A Rocha Ghana says the most fitting memorial is a renewed commitment to environmental justice and a future where development does not come at the expense of nature.
