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The Convenor of FixTheCountry, Oliver Barker-Vormawor, has announced that the movement will hold a vigil on Sunday, September 21, at Revolution Square in Accra to protest the ongoing environmental destruction caused by illegal mining (galamsey).
In a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Monday, 15 September 2025, Barker-Vormawor described the fight against galamsey as not just political, but a moral and spiritual responsibility.
“The responsibility to protect and preserve the environment is by divine assignment, ours as a people,” he wrote, stressing that the crisis “is bigger than petty politics.”
The vigil will be followed by a public march on Monday, September 22, which is a national holiday. The two-day civic action is expected to draw attention to what FixTheCountry has long described as an “environmental crisis of urgent proportions.”
Broken Promises and Rising Frustration
Ghanaians have heard promise after promise from successive governments about ending galamsey. The current administration came into power with bold declarations of tackling the menace immediately. Yet, years later, galamsey continues, poisoning rivers, destroying farmlands, and threatening the health of entire communities.
Some defend the government, saying they have not been in power long enough to completely end the problem. But others argue that if leaders are already enjoying the full benefits of office, then they also have the power, and the duty, to act decisively against galamsey.
Communities at Risk
The effects of illegal mining are no longer distant headlines. They are real, painful experiences for ordinary people. In some parts of the Central Region, residents face water shortages because nearby rivers have been so polluted by mining activities that treatment plants can no longer process the water safely.
This is not only a threat to human health but also a direct attack on livelihoods, as farmers lose their lands and fishermen struggle in polluted waters.
Why This Vigil Matters
FixTheCountry has been a consistent critic of how galamsey is handled, often pointing to political interference as the reason enforcement fails. Barker-Vormawor’s call seeks to move beyond talk, channeling public frustration into civic action.
The vigil and march are more than symbolic. They are a chance for citizens to stand together and demand that leaders prioritize the environment, not just for today but for generations to come.
A Call to Act Now
The galamsey debate has gone on for too long. What Ghana needs now is not more speeches, but real action. Communities are losing their water, farmers their lands, and children their future. If this continues, the cost to the nation will be too great to repair.
As FixTheCountry gathers at Revolution Square, one thing is clear: the environment cannot wait for politics to catch up. It is time for leaders, chiefs, financiers, and citizens alike to act. Because if the rivers die, if the land dies, then we all die with them.
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