Shocking as Okatakyie Afrifa Mensah invokes curses during 2025 #GalamseyMustFall protest in Accra Ghana, demanding an end to illegal mining.
Ghanaian media personality and activist Okatakyie Afrifa-Mensah led hundreds of protesters through the streets of Accra on April 28, 2025, kicking off a three-day anti-galamsey demonstration organized by the Generational Rights Protection Society (GRPS). Starting at Obra Spot and heading toward Jubilee House, the #GalamseyMustFall movement highlighted the devastating impact of galamsey on Ghana’s water bodies, forests, and communities.
Okatakyie Afrifa Mensah Invokes Curses During 2025 #GalamseyMustFall (Illegal Mining) Protest in Accra Ghana
Mr. Afrifa, a co-convener of the protest, poured libation and invoked curses on those complicit in the environmental crisis, urging the John Dramani Mahama administration to act decisively. Despite police resistance, including a failed injunction attempt, the Accra High Court upheld the protesters’ right to march, amplifying their call for environmental justice.
On the first day, protesters projected videos of galamsey’s environmental destruction onto a large screen in front of Jubilee House, a bold move to confront the government directly. Afrifa stopped at the Ghana Police Service headquarters, offering a traditional prayer for law enforcement to gain the strength to tackle the galamsey menace, which he criticized as poorly addressed due to alleged official complicity.
The demonstration, set to continue until April 30, plans to culminate with a petition to the presidency, outlining demands for a clear roadmap to end illegal mining. Social media buzzed with support, with viral videos of Afrifa’s fiery speeches and the protest’s vibrant energy, though the petition had not been presented by April 29, 2025, as the movement gained momentum.
Afrifa’s activism, rooted in his outspoken criticism of government inaction, has not come without challenges. Earlier in March 2025, he faced arrest by the Cyber Crime Unit, with some alleging it was linked to his galamsey exposés, raising concerns about freedom of speech. Despite these setbacks, Afrifa remains steadfast, calling for a national emergency declaration to address the crisis that threatens Ghana’s natural resources and future generations. The #GalamseyMustFall protest, backed by hashtags like #SaveOurGhana and #GhanaDeservesBetter, has sparked renewed public discourse, with citizens urged to join the fight against illegal mining’s toll on the environment and livelihoods.
