FREE THE CITIZENS

The Galamsey problem has finally reached crisis level. The security forces and politicized, weaponized Judiciary of the President who pledged to put his Presidency on the line to fight Galamsey are collaborating to silence citizens who are actually fighting Galamsey. The over 50 activists facing prosecution are the wrong defendants. They followed the rules in organizing protests. They are on the side of the people. History is on their side. And God is too! And so is the constitution. Article 41:k requires citizens ” to protect and safeguard the environment”. How can the police ignore those who are obliterating our forests and turning our rivers into milo and cocoa drinks and arrest the patriotic protesters? Can’t they see our forests disappearing? Our security forces would have arrested the leaders of the Aborigines Rights Protection Society if they were there. They would have shot not only Sgt. Adjetey and the 2 others on 28th February but many more. They would have jailed or killed many of the the PMFJ members including Afrifa, Gbedemah and NADAA! They would have beaten the students who rose up against dictatorship in 1983 as their predecessors did! They would have killed more ” Kume Preko” demonstrators and its leaders, including Kwesi Pratt, Kweku Baako, Tarzan Yaw Nsarkoh and NADAA.

Too often in history, force has been on the side of the oppressors instead of those fighting for freedom. The instruments of force kept slavery in place for centuries. Force was on the side of Apartheid and against Biko, Mandela, Tutu and others. Force was the main instrument of colonialism and against Gandhi, Nkrumah and the masses yearning for freedom. The fight against Galamsey has become an irresistible moral crusade. The youth, the workers, the people of faith, the Diaspora and masses have joined it.

The moral fight against Galamsey that started at the demoralizing pace of the tortoise is approaching the pace of the hare. In this struggle, there is no neutral ground. He that is not against Galamsey is for it! Join the fight. March if you can. Defend the innocents if you are a lawyer. Defend your land if you are a chief. That’s your sacred duty. Contribute if you can to support. Pray if you are a person of faith– and then march! Stand up for your country– not your party if you have a conscience! Outlaw Galamsey if you are a lawmaker! Protect the marchers if you are a policeman. This is the moment Ephraim Amu was calling us to! Free the Citizens and Stop Galamsey! May God bless us all and Ghana! Aluta Continua! Victora et Cetera! We shall Overcome! Arthur Kobina Kennedy ( 4th October, 2024)