Oliver Barker-Vormawor, the Convenor of FixTheCountry, has announced an anti-galamsey demonstration on Sunday, September 21.
In a social media post, Barker-Vormawor highlighted the need to protect Ghana’s environment.
According to Vormawor, the responsibility to protect and preserve the Environment is by divine assignment as Ghanaians.
Vormawor announced that the vigil would be followed by a public march on Monday, 22 September, a national holiday, to draw more attention to the environmental crisis of urgent proportions.
In his post, the social activist wrote, “The responsibility to protect and preserve the Environment is by divine assignment, ours as a people.
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.
On Sunday 21st September, we will have a vigil at the Revolution Square, and on Monday 22nd (a holiday), there will be a march calling attention to the urgency of our environmental crisis. Join us”.
Vormawor’s announcement came after Mahama, on Wednesday, September 10, stated he was exploring all available alternatives in the fight against galamsey before considering declaring a state of emergency.
President John Dramani Mahama has said implementing a state of emergency might sound nice, but it should be the last resort.
According to John Mahama, his administration is not in a rush to declare a state of emergency in the fight against illegal mining.
He noted growing public pressure to take drastic measures on galamsey but warned against resorting to a state of emergency prematurely.
Speaking at his media encounter in Accra on Wednesday, September 10, John Mahama explained, “I’ve been reluctant to implement a state of emergency in the galamsey fight because we’ve not exhausted the powers we even have without a state of emergency”.
“We have the opportunity to arrest anybody, to confiscate any such thing. The laws for forest protection and all that give us enough powers to be able to act”, he added.
John Mahama highlighted that a state of emergency should be considered only as a last resort.
“Implementing a state of emergency might sound nice, but it should be the last resort. So for now, let’s exercise all the powers we have — and if it becomes necessary for a state of emergency, then we look at it,” he added.
John Mahama further announced that his government is intensifying efforts to combat illegal mining, which has long threatened Ghana’s environment and natural resources.
He announced that the task force’s operations have led to the apprehension of hundreds of excavators, water pumps, and other heavy equipment used in galamsey activities.
“We’re taking decisive action to protect our environment and natural resources from destruction. A dedicated national task force is in place, actively combating the menace of illegal mining.
“As a result of their operations, hundreds of excavators, water pumps and other heavy equipment have been seized. Disrupting the networks that have long exploited our rivers. Nine forest reserves have been reclaimed from the grips of illegal miners,” he said.
Meanwhile, Richard Ahiagbah, the Director of Communications for the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has said President John Dramani Mahama is running away from fighting illegal mining, known locally as galamsey.
Mr Ahiagbah accused President Mahama of lacking the political will to tackle illegal mining.
Speaking on Citi FM’s The Big Issue on Saturday, September 13, Ahiagbah stated, “Now President Mahama tells us that the state of emergency is not what we need, but somehow there are laws on the books that we have not exhausted, that we have not exercised, and I was left wondering — what are those laws?”.
“In trying to explain, he says we can still arrest people, confiscate. We have done all of that. We have arrested people.”
He added, “Everything has been done. So the question is that what law is President Mahama talking about on the books which have not been exercised? If there are any that have not been exercised, why is he not doing so? What is he waiting for?”
“Lack of interest in fighting the thing. Lack of interest”, Ahiagbah responded bluntly
Richard Ahiagbah also accused Mahama of presiding over the GoldBod purchasing gold from illegal miners.
Mr Ahiagbah added, “One honest admission is that the president said that GoldBod is buying galamsey gold. That was admission from the president. That is a very terrible situation we have on our hands — that an entity established by law is engaged in business with an illegal enterprise. That is scandalous. That is something you want to impeach somebody about.”
“When we just removed a CJ because people processed her travel things for her. She didn’t process it herself… That one, you remove an individual from office for that. Now you are telling us that you have set up a GoldBod that is buying illegal gold, and that is okay.
“What I am saying is that the president is running away from fighting galamsey”, he confidently added.
See the post below:
The responsibility to protect and preserve the Environment is by divine assignment, ours as a people.
— Osagyefo Oliver Barker-Vormawor (@barkervogues) September 15, 2025
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.
On Sunday 21st September, we…
21st September pilgrimage! #StopGalamseyNow
— Osagyefo Oliver Barker-Vormawor (@barkervogues) September 14, 2025
Times up! pic.twitter.com/uSwiXzPpXx