Oliver Barker-Vormawor, Ghana’s Cambridge-educated eco-warrior, has gone from the streets to a hospital bed faster than you can say “galamsey.” This firebrand activist, who dared to rally against illegal gold mining, found himself behind bars after a three-day protest turned sour.
Barker-Vormawor’s legal team is crying foul, claiming the cops dragged their feet on getting him medical help when he said he was “seriously ill.” The police, of course, are singing a different tune, insisting they are playing by the book.
This isn’t just about one man’s health, though. It is the latest chapter in Ghana’s ongoing battle against “galamsey” – the illegal mining that is turning the country’s rivers into toxic sludge as about 60% of Ghana’s water bodies are polluted. It is so bad, some folks are whispering about importing water by 2030. The crackdown on protesters has sparked outrage, with #FreeTheCitizens trending faster than you can pan for gold. Lawyers are calling it a flashback to military rule, and they’re not pulling any punches.
Meanwhile, President Akufo-Addo is playing whack-a-mole with illegal miners, sending in the troops. But it is like trying to catch smoke – these guys just move their operations to the dead of night.
As Barker-Vormawor recovers in hospital, Ghana’s fight against illegal mining is far from over. And it’s looking messier by the day.