The Old Vandals’ Association of North America (OVANA) has voiced its deep frustration with the ongoing illegal mining (galamsey) crisis and the failure of government interventions to address the devastation caused.

In a press release on October 7, a group of Commonwealth Hall alumni from the University of Ghana, demanded immediate action from the government, warning that failure to meet their demands would lead to mass demonstrations involving students from primary to tertiary levels.

OVANA stated the dire consequences of illegal mining, highlighting the pollution of rivers, destruction of farmlands, and long-term health risks facing communities.

The Association described galamsey as a national emergency, calling for immediate government intervention.

“Our rivers are polluted, farmlands destroyed, and communities left vulnerable to long-term health hazards,” the statement read.

Among their demands was a call for the government to declare a state of emergency on the galamsey crisis, an immediate ban on all galamsey activities until a transparent regulatory framework is in place, and the repeal of Legislative Instrument (LI) 2462, which they argue opened the floodgates for mining in forest reserves.

OVANA also called for a comprehensive review of all mining laws to bring them in line with global environmental standards.

One of the most pressing aspects of OVANA’s statement is their demand for the immediate release of all demonstrators arrested for protesting against galamsey.

“We demand that no citizen is harassed or detained for standing up to protect the environment. Peaceful protests are a constitutional right,” the release stated.

However, the most striking warning came in the form of a two-week ultimatum to the government.

Should the authorities fail to respond to their demands, OVANA vowed to organize students across the country to protest en masse.

“Failure to do so will leave us with no choice but to mobilize students from all levels of education—primary, secondary, and tertiary—to stage a massive nationwide demonstration,” they warned, underscoring the gravity of the situation.

With presidential elections on the horizon, OVANA called on all presidential aspirants to publicly commit to addressing the galamsey menace.

“The future of our nation depends on strong leadership that will decisively combat galamsey,” the statement urged.

The Association made it clear that galamsey is not just an environmental issue, but a threat to the very survival of Ghana as a nation.

“The time to act is now. We must ensure that Ghana’s resources benefit all its citizens, not just a few,” OVANA concluded, calling on Ghanaians, civil society organisations, and the international community to join the fight to protect Ghana’s land, water, and future generations.