The Fix the country movement has announced a vigil on Sunday, September 21, at Revolution Square in Accra, followed by a public march on Monday, September 22—a national holiday—to protest the escalating environmental damage from illegal mining, known as galamsey.
Convenor Oliver Barker-Vormawor revealed the plans in an X post on September 15, framing the action as a “divine assignment” transcending politics.
“Our responsibility to end galamsey does not end at elections. Nor does it begin after our party loses one. This is bigger than petty politics,” Barker-Vormawor wrote, urging citizens to join in safeguarding Ghana’s water bodies, forests, and farmlands. He emphasized the crisis’s moral weight, calling for collective civic engagement beyond electoral cycles.
The events aim to spotlight galamsey’s “urgent proportions,” including polluted rivers, displaced farmers, and health risks, amid government pledges for enforcement without a state of emergency. FixTheCountry, a vocal critic of past and present administrations, has previously proposed chiefs-led anti-galamsey efforts and community youth guards.
Barker-Vormawor’s call comes as public frustration mounts, with over 1,000 illegal miners arrested recently and special courts proposed for faster prosecutions. Critics like Cadman Mills and Miracles Aboagye have urged bolder action from President Mahama, who insists existing laws suffice.
The movement invites all Ghanaians to participate, positioning the protests as essential for national survival.
