The Old Vandals’ Association of North America (OVANA) has expressed frustration over the ongoing illegal mining crisis, commonly known as galamsey.

OVANA criticised government's failure to effectively address the environmental destruction caused by these activities.

In a statement issued on Monday, 7 October 2024, the Commonwealth Hall alumni from the University of Ghana called for immediate government intervention, warning of mass demonstrations involving students at all educational levels if their demands are not met.

OVANA described galamsey as a national emergency, pointing to the alarming consequences of illegal mining, which include polluted rivers, devastated farmlands, and long-term health risks for communities.

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

Among the association’s key demands, OVANA is urging government to declare a state of emergency regarding the galamsey crisis and to impose an immediate ban on all illegal mining operations until a transparent regulatory framework is established.

The association also called for the repeal of Legislative Instrument (LI) 2462, which they argue has facilitated illegal mining in forest reserves.

Additionally, the association is pushing for a comprehensive review of mining laws to ensure they align with global environmental standards.

Highlighting the right to peaceful protest, OVANA insisted on the immediate release of all demonstrators arrested for opposing galamsey.

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

OVANA gave government a two-week deadline to respond to its demands.

The association threatened to mobilise students across the nation for significant protests if their concerns remain unaddressed.

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