Ghanaian activist Oliver Barker-Vormawor, who was arrested over the weekend for organising a three-day protest against illegal mining, has been rushed to the hospital for urgent medical care.
According to Vormawor’s legal team, the police failed to provide him with timely medical attention, despite his claims on Tuesday that he was “seriously ill.” However, Ghana’s police deny these allegations, stating that both Vormawor and another detained protester are currently receiving treatment at the police hospital.
Illegal gold mining, locally referred to as “galamsey,” is widespread in Ghana and has been blamed for contaminating over 60% of the country’s water bodies.
Vormawor, a Cambridge-educated activist, was arrested along with over 40 others after clashes with the police. He was scheduled to appear in court on Wednesday. Some of the detained protesters claim they have been denied food and water since their arrest on Saturday, though the police have not addressed these accusations.
Vormawor was also a key organiser of last year’s #FixTheCountry demonstration, which protested the rising cost of living in Ghana.
On Tuesday, a court in Ghana remanded 39 protesters in police custody, while 11 others were ordered to remain in prison for two weeks. A group of lawyers has filed a petition against the police at the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice, accusing them of infringing on the protesters’ rights.
The continued detention has sparked widespread condemnation from Ghanaians, who are calling for the protesters’ immediate release using the trending hashtag #FreeTheCitizens.
Prince Ganaku, one of the protesters’ lawyers, voiced his dismay at their treatment. “The behaviour of the police is reminiscent of the days of military rule, where human rights were treated as a mere suggestion,” he said.
Many of the protesters were motivated by the looming threat illegal mining poses. The practice has forced the national water company to shut down treatment plants and ration water in parts of southern Ghana.
Experts warn that Ghana may have to import water by 2030 if the illegal mining issue is not resolved. President Nana Akufo-Addo has ordered the police and military to intensify efforts against illegal miners, a move similar to the one made in 2017, which ultimately failed to curb the problem. Illegal miners continue to evade law enforcement by operating under the cover of darkness.