In Accra, a group of young protesters took to the streets to voice their opposition to illegal mining activities, commonly referred to as galamsey.

In a contrasting display, some illegal miners staged their own protest at mining sites, demonstrating their determination to continue their operations.

These miners, numbering around seven, tied red bands around their tools and shouted slogans emphasising their refusal to abandon illegal mining.

They pounded their shovels and pickaxes on the ground, proclaiming, "We want jobs; we won't stop."

The galamsey workers extract gold from the ground, often finding it in metallic dust form, and they also process oxide or sulphide gold ore with the use of liquid mercury.

Simultaneously, the SayNoToGalamsey demonstration, which concluded on October 5, 2024, aimed to highlight the severe environmental damage caused by ongoing illegal mining activities.

The protest called for urgent action from the government and the Ghana Police Service, specifically demanding the release of individuals who had been arrested during previous demonstrations.