A senior member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Kwadwo Nsafoah Poku, has questioned the motive of the #StopGalamsey protesters for undertaking a demonstration in Accra.

According to him, it would have been better for the protesters to embark on a demonstration in the communities where illegal mining activities, locally known as galamsey, are taking place, instead of holding it in Accra.

He debunked claims that government officials are involved in galamsey, adding that it is the youth in those communities who are doing it to gain an income for survival.

Speaking on TV3 NewDay, Kwadwo Poku said that it would have been prudent for the protesters to go to the galamsey areas to educate the people involved of its dangers instead of demonstrating in Accra.

“I am very sad to see people demonstrate in Accra when the real work is being done in the mining areas. The people involved in galamsey are not the government; it is the youth in the community who are doing it. We have been fighting armed robbery in Ghana; has it stopped?

"So, I am saying people who want galamsey to stop should go to the community and educate them. They should stop being double-mouthed and demonstrate there,” he said.

The #StopGalamsey protest was organised by a group of Ghanaians who are aggrieved by the destruction of water bodies by illegal mining activities, and have called on the government to take action to resolve the issue.

The demonstration lasted for three days, spanning from October 3 to 6, 2024.

Religious leaders, political figures, and state institutions have all added their voices to calls for the galamsey menace to end.

Organised Labour has also served notice that it will embark on a strike on October 10, 2024, if the government fails to respond to the calls.

Watch the video below:

Why demonstrate in Accra when galamsey happens elsewhere? - Kwadwo Poku, Senior Member, NPP#TV3GH pic.twitter.com/lK2JdkP8JU

— #TV3GH (@tv3_ghana) October 8, 2024