The ongoing Stop Galamsey protest, which began today, September 22, 2025, has seen passionate calls for urgent government action as citizens highlight the dire consequences of illegal mining on public health and the nation’s water resources.
One protester, speaking to the crowd, painted a grim picture of the unfolding health emergency.
“We are hearing reports. We are hearing reports. Women giving birth in public. The good majority of them, they are in the hospital.
“And somehow, anyhow, why? Kidney failure,” he declared, warning of the rising cases being recorded in medical facilities.
According to him, hospitals are raising alarm over a disturbing increase in kidney failure cases.
“The reports are coming out from the hospital, telling us straightforward that the increase in kidney failure is becoming too much.
“That is warning from the hospital. That is warning from the hospital.
“And they are adding advice. Advice which is conflicting with the directs. The advice is drink water. Clean water,” he said.
But the protester lamented that access to clean water has now become almost impossible due to galamsey contamination.
“And now when you get to the water to drink, it’s been poisoned from the source.
“The youth of this country don’t know what we are facing. That is why when the president said he doesn’t think it is necessary to get the emergency, it was a shameful statement,” he argued.
He further cited warnings from the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) about the increasing cost and risk of treating polluted water.
“Because the Ghana Water Company is giving you warning that, look, Mr. President and the country, the chemicals we use to treat the water, we are now going to add increments. We are going to increase it.
“And that is bad for your health. To the health of this population. And our pockets. And our pockets too,” he stressed.
The protester ended on an emotional note, appealing to leaders to consider the future generations. “Those of us who have grandchildren, more than three, and feel the pain. And feel the pain,” he said.
