In Ghana, the three-day demonstration against illegal gold mines ended on Saturday evening, October 5, with a vigil. Several hundred people gathered in Accra, in tribute to the fifty or so detained demonstrators, and to say that the fight is far from over.
2 mins
with our correspondent in Accra, Victor Cariou
Hundreds of lit candles, held one by one high towards the rainy sky, in front of the Accra Sport Stadium in the capital of Ghana. The crowd chants in chorus the names of the 53 arrested demonstrators.
Among them, Ezekiel Adi, a student in Accra. “ We will continue to demonstrate until they release our friends. They are not criminals. The real criminals are those who pollute our rivers, they are the ones who must be arrested! »
In front of them, a giant screen broadcasts images of ocher-colored rivers, polluted by the Galamsey, illegal gold mining. A subject now at the forefront according to Jo Johnes, a Ghanaian in his twenties. “ If we do nothing, our children will suffer. Here, at least, we see people who do not approve of this nonsense. The movement is slowly growing, and I believe that justice will be done, if not by the government, it will be by the people. »
Also readGhana: call for three days of demonstrations to protect polluted waterways
Several thousand people gathered, petitions sent to the government, all without a hitch with the police. No doubt: these three days were a real success for Emmanuel Sarpong, one of the organizers. “ When we started talking about it on the internet, a lot of people thought we wouldn’t be able to bring that many people together. So seeing all these people, more and more every day, it’s definitely a victory. »
The collective is now giving the authorities one week to respond to their demands… under penalty of returning to the streets.
Also listenIn Ghana, “illegal gold mining is an environmental curse”
Arrested demonstrators file complaints
Note that 32 of the 53 protesters arrested filed a complaint this weekend against the Attorney General and the Inspector General of Police for violation of their fundamental human rights. Strikes and other demonstrations against Galamsey, notably organized by the conference of Catholic bishops, are planned for next week.