The National Executive Committee of the Graduate Students’ Association of Ghana (GRASAG) has officially announced that it will join the Catholic Bishops’ Conference and the Catholic Church in their protest against illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey on October 11, 2024.
The two churches have indicated their readiness to engage in peaceful protest to call on government to use stringent measure to salvage the destruction of the environment caused by the activities of illegal mining.
In a release dated October 7, 2024 GRASAG indicated the decision to join the demonstration is as a result of the “alarming environmental degradation and socio-economic challenges caused by galamsey activities across the country”.
“GRASAG stands united with the Catholic Church in calling for stronger actions from the government, civil society, and all stakeholders to protect Ghana’s lands, water bodies, and natural resources from further destruction,” portion of the release read.
“As a body of over 100 thousand intellectuals and future leaders, GRASAG believes that the ongoing galamsey operations threaten the future of Ghana’s environment, economy and its citizens at large.
“Particularly for students who drink water from the various taps at the University campuses, this issue certainly is a worry. We cannot stand idly by while our water bodies are poisoned, farmlands destroyed, and communities left vulnerable,” they further added.
In conclusion GRASAG called on well meaning Ghanaians to demand accountability and responsibility from government by participating in “this peaceful demonstration to amplify the call for immediate and effective measures to combat illegal mining”.