Lawyer and activist Oliver Barker-Vormawor has issued a warning to the National Democratic Congress (NDC), urging the party to be cautious in its handling of protesters speaking out against illegal mining, known locally as galamsey. He described what he believes is a potential plan to arrest those opposing galamsey as a trap that could backfire politically.
Barker-Vormawor, who leads the civil action group Democracy Hub, said the NDC should be careful not to be drawn into actions that might undermine democratic rights and civil liberties. He suggested that attempting to detain demonstrators could be used to discredit the opposition and strengthen opposing political narratives.
Illegal mining has been a long-standing environmental and social issue in Ghana, drawing public protests over ecological destruction and calls for stronger government action. Barker-Vormawor and others have repeatedly highlighted the environmental damage caused by galamsey as a matter of national concern.
In recent years, anti-galamsey demonstrations have drawn attention and sometimes confrontation with security agencies. In some previous protests, dozens of activists have been arrested and faced legal proceedings, a situation that has generated debate about the rights to peaceful protest in the country.
Barker-Vormawor’s warning comes amid ongoing dialogue about how political parties and the state engage with citizens who mobilise around environmental and governance issues. He insists that alleged attempts to detain protestors should be resisted in order to protect democratic values and public trust.
