Ghanaian youth have been actively rallying against galamsey, which refers to illegal small-scale gold mining in Ghana.

There have been organized protests, such as the “Stop Galamsey Now” protest led by the Democracy Hub, which demanded decisive action from the Ghanaian government to halt illegal mining activities, particularly in forest reserves and along key rivers. These protests have highlighted the environmental degradation caused by galamsey, including pollution of major rivers like the Pra, Ankobra, and Birim.

Following protests, there were reports of arrests, including individuals like a 63-year-old woman and a 10-year-old child, which sparked outrage on social platforms. This reaction underscores the public’s frustration with the government’s handling of both the galamsey issue and the response to protesters.

The issue has gained international attention, with demonstrations occurring at significant locations like the United Nations Headquarters in New York, where protesters demanded the release of those arrested during anti-galamsey protests in Ghana. Various groups, including the Youth in Natural Resources and Environmental Governance (Youth-NREG), religious organizations like the Youth Gate of Advocates for Christ Ghana, and even church youth groups like the Young People’s Guild (YPG) at Trinity Presbyterian Church, have actively rallied against galamsey.

They’ve called for stricter enforcement, restoration of damaged ecosystems, and have criticized the government for what they perceive as inaction or insufficient action against illegal mining. There’s been criticism towards the government, with figures like Osman Ayariga from the NDC accusing President Akufo-Addo of lacking commitment to fighting galamsey.

Conversely, there’s also a call for collective responsibility from government supporters, indicating that the fight against galamsey should not be left to the government alone. The sentiment from X posts reflects a deep concern over the environmental and health impacts of galamsey, with calls for immediate action, disillusionment with political responses, and instances of citizens taking direct action against galamsey operations, such as burning down mining equipment.

This movement against galamsey by Ghanaian youth and various stakeholders represents a significant social and environmental campaign, highlighting the broader implications of illegal mining on Ghana’s future and its natural resources. The protests and the subsequent reactions illustrate a populace increasingly vocal and active in demanding environmental justice and governance accountability.

Nana Kwame Bediako, also known as Freedom Jacob Caesar or Cheddar, has officially announced Dr. Maryam Esaka Kriesie as his running mate for the 2024 Ghanaian presidential election under the banner of the New Force movement.

This announcement was made public on October 4, 2024, through various posts on X, confirming Dr. Maryam Esaka Kriesie as his choice for the vice-presidential position.

This decision follows previous statements from Bediako about unveiling his running mate when the time was right, indicating a strategic buildup to this reveal.

Dr. Maryam Esaka Kriesie’s selection has been met with interest and discussion among political observers and the general public, as seen reflected in posts on social media platforms.

WhatsApp has recently introduced two new features for its Status updates: the ability to like statuses and to tag or mention contacts within a status update. Here’s what you need to know:

Status Liking

Users can now show appreciation for someone’s status by tapping a heart icon, similar to liking a post on other social media platforms. When you like a status, the poster receives a notification, enhancing interaction without the need for direct messaging.

Private Mentions

This feature allows users to tag specific contacts in their status updates. When you mention someone, they receive a private notification, and only they can see that they’ve been mentioned, keeping the interaction discreet from other viewers.

These features are designed to make WhatsApp’s Status more interactive, mirroring functionalities seen on platforms like Instagram Stories.

They’re currently rolling out globally, meaning if you haven’t seen these options yet, you might need to update your WhatsApp app from the respective app stores (Google Play Store for Android or App Store for iOS) to access these new features.

The introduction of these features indicates WhatsApp’s continuous effort to evolve its platform, making it not just a messaging app but also a more dynamic social interaction tool.

This aligns with broader trends where instant messaging apps incorporate more social media-like features to keep users engaged within their ecosystem.