‘Let my children out; they only have a mother’ – Woman, 62, as she joins protest

Naa Densua, a 62-year-old protester has called for the release of arrested Democracy Hub protesters who have been remanded into police and prison custody.

Speaking exclusively to GhanaWeb’s George Ayisi during the ongoing 3-day protests by the Coalition of Concerned Citizens against galamsey, Naa Densua passionately appealed to the authorities to set her children free.

According to her, the only crime the arrested protesters committed was fighting for a ban on illegal mining activities and the preservation of water bodies and forest reserves.

Naa Densua, driven to tears, further called on the authorities to act swiftly to stop galamsey activities that have caused significant pollution to major river bodies across parts of the country.

“Free my children. I need my children. I am a mother and I want my children back. We don’t want any more galamsey water. Stop killing us, stop punishing us for fighting for clean water. Please let our children out, they haven’t committed any sin. This is the sin [galamsey]; this is killing us so let my children out.

“They don’t have a father, they only have a mother. Let them out,” she said amid tears.

The three-day protest organised by the Concerned Citizens against galamsey began on Thursday, October 3, 2024, in Accra, as activists demanded the immediate release of 53 Democracy Hub protesters who were arrested during a similar anti-galamsey demonstration from September 21-23.

The demonstration, which is set to run until October 5, aims to draw attention to ongoing galamsey activities which have and continue to cause devastating damage to the country’s environment and water bodies, and also for the release of their arrested colleague protesters.

The protest march which started from Legon Okponglo will proceed to the Black Star Square, while following a route approved by the police.

Chosen protest paths include key locations such as the Legon Stadium, Okponglo Traffic Light, Shiashie, Shangri-La, and Airport Traffic Light.

Afterward, protesters will head to the National Service Secretariat, the Electoral Commission Head Office, Parliament House, and end at Independence Square.

Organised under the banners "FreeTheCitizens" and "SayNoToGalamsey," the protest has gained strong momentum on social media, with thousands expected to participate.



MAG/AE