Leading environmental advocacy group, Eco-Conscious Citizens, has raised grave concerns over the alleged arrest of four farmers in Atronsu during the Farmers’ Day observation on September 8, 2024.

The police arrested these farmers who are also community activists, for reportedly setting excavators used by illegal miners ablaze.

The move has sparked outrage among residents and environmental advocates.

In an open letter addressed to the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Akufo Dampare, the Eco-Conscious Citizens highlighted a concerning disparity: while farmers face legal consequences, the illegal miners responsible for contaminating the Atronsu Stream—the community’s only drinking water source—are largely left unpunished.

“It is of concern that the illegal miners who have been actively poisoning the only source of drinking water in Atronsu are walking free,” the letter stated.

Founder and coordinator of Eco-Conscious Citizens, Awula Serwah, pointed out that the farmers have spoken out for months about the pollution of the Atronsu Stream, yet their concerns appear to have been ignored.

Formal complaints were made to the police and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), but illegal miners continued their activities without facing consequences.

Even though a few miners were arrested, they were promptly released on bail and quickly returned to mining operations.

The letter also condemns the police’s handling of the matter, highlighting how perceptions of “selective justice” are damaging public confidence in law enforcement.

“The optics do not look good,” Serwah noted, pointing out the disparity in treatment between the illegal miners and the activists. While the miners were granted bail, anti-galamsey demonstrators have reportedly been denied similar leniency.

Eco-Conscious Citizens are asking the IGP to step in and make sure justice is served fairly.

They believe it's a big injustice to let illegal mining continue without consequences while punishing people who speak out against it.

“To appear to condone the criminal activities of the illegal miners, whilst wielding the law heavily on the victims of the crime committed by the miners, would be an extremely unfortunate injustice,” the letter concludes.

Weeks ago, three staff of the Multimedia Group Limited including Erastus Asare Donkor were attacked by armed men who claim to be working for a mining site, Edelmetallum Resources Limited, at Asumenya close to Manso Nkran in the Ashanti region.

Over ten heavily built men armed with pump action guns attacked them, and forcibly drove them to a location before subjecting them to severe beatings and abandoning them.

Galamsey has caused severe deforestation, water pollution, and soil degradation. Over 60% of Ghana's water bodies have been polluted with mercury and other heavy metals, leading to health issues like kidney failure and respiratory conditions.

Military operations like "Operation Vanguard" and "Operation Halt II," has been employed by government to remove illegal miners from river bodies and forest reserves.

To date, more than 100 deployed soldiers have managed to destroy various mining equipment and make some arrests. However, observers believe that this approach, previously used, may not be effective in fully tackling the illegal mining problem.