Eco-Conscious Citizens, a prominent environmental advocacy group, has voiced deep concerns over the recent arrest of four farmers in Atronsu on Ghana’s Farmers’ Day.
The farmers, who are also known community activists, were detained on allegations of burning an excavator used by illegal miners. This incident has ignited outrage among local residents and environmental advocates, who argue that the farmers were standing up against illegal mining activities harming their community.
In an open letter to the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Eco-Conscious Citizens highlighted a stark contradiction, pointing out that while the farmers are facing legal consequences, illegal miners—who have been contaminating Atronsu’s only drinking water source, the Atronsu Stream—remain mostly 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.
Awula Serwah, founder and coordinator of Eco-Conscious Citizens, stressed that these farmers have long been outspoken about the pollution of the Atronsu Stream, yet their calls for action have largely gone ignored. She noted that despite formal complaints to the police and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), illegal mining operations continued unabated. Though some miners were arrested, they were promptly released on bail and resumed their activities.
The letter criticized the police’s handling of the situation, describing a troubling perception of “selective justice” that damages public trust. “The optics do not look good,” Serwah remarked, highlighting the differing treatment between the illegal miners and activists. While miners were granted bail, anti-galamsey (anti-illegal mining) demonstrators have reportedly not been shown the same leniency.
Eco-Conscious Citizens are calling on the IGP to take immediate action to ensure fair and impartial justice. They argue that allowing illegal mining to persist unchecked, while penalizing those who oppose it, represents a significant injustice. “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 concluded.
READ THE LETTER BELOW
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Open Letter to the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Re: Arrest Of 4 Farmers On Farmers’ Day
Nov. 8 2024
Dear IGP,
Selective Justice? Pollution of Atronsu Stream, the Only Source of Drinking Water in Atronsu
It has come to the attention of Eco-Conscious Citizens that today 8th November, when Ghana is marking Farmers’ Day and acknowledging their importance to our National Wellbeing, four farmers have been arrested in Atronsu.
The farmers who are also Community Activists heeding the President’s call to be Active Citizens and not Spectators, were arrested for allegedly burning an excavator used by illegal miners.
Their arrest is in sharp contrast to the reluctance of the Police to arrest the illegal miners who have been recklessly polluting the Atronsu Stream that provides life and sustenance to the Atronsu community.
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 Activists have for months been complaining about the pollution of the once pristine Atronsu Stream, by illegal miners.
Despite their formal complaints, the illegal miners continued their criminal activities with impunity. Eco-Conscious Citizens Coordinator Awula Serwah also informally complained to the Police and the EPA.
The illegal miners were eventually arrested, but promptly given police bail. They were quick to return to their illegal mining activities and pollution of the Atronsu Stream.
The optics do not look good.
The granting of bail to the illegal miners is in sharp contrast to the treatment of the anti-galamsey demonstrators who were repeatedly denied police bail.
Eco-Conscious Citizens therefore respectfully urge you to counter the growing impression that the Police are facilitating the activities of illegal miners by intervening to ensure that the activists are granted police bail.
The growing perception of selective justice does not inspire confidence in Ghana Police, whose mandate is to serve and protect.
We note that even in war, poisoning of water bodies is a war crime. 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.
We respectfully appeal to you to urgently intervene in this matter.
Awula Serwah
Eco-Conscious Citizens founder/coordinator
