Dear So-Called Neutrals,
I start my open letter to you with the popular Akan proverb: “Obi nkyere abofra Nyame,” to wit, “No one shows a child the Supreme Being.” This Akan proverb teaches us that certain truths are self-evident. They need no explanation, and wisdom is not always passed down through teaching but through lived experience.
You so-called neutrals have lost sight of a fundamental truth. By calling for the release of demonstrators whose criminal and unpatriotic actions were witnessed by all, you appear to be endorsing the chaotic protests on the streets of Nkrankrom. It seems you are also backing an idea that is clearly dangerous and counterproductive, requiring no further analysis to recognise its harm.
While it is true that illegal mining (galamsey) is a scourge on our land, affecting our water bodies, forests, and future generations, your call is tone-deaf to the consequences of encouraging lawlessness. Indeed, the tree that does not bear fruit today will bear fruit tomorrow. Just as the damage done to our environment through galamsey takes time to reveal its full devastating effects, so too will the chaos and disorder you endorse have long-lasting repercussions. You are nurturing a seed of disorder whose fruits we will soon taste, and I assure you, they will be bitter.
First and foremost, let’s not get lost in the fight against galamsey. We all know how destructive it is. There is no argument there. However, if you are going to do something, do it well because how it is done determines the outcome. You cannot fight galamsey by turning a peaceful society into chaos. In supporting the disruptive protests, you folks are essentially saying that it is acceptable to block roads, prevent access to hospitals, and put lives at risk. Imagine, for a moment, what it would mean if any of you or your loved one were caught in the crossfire of such chaos.
As the Akan proverb literally translates, “A child who smears his head with butter should not go near the fire because the fire will destroy him.” By the same logic, if we play with lawlessness, it will eventually consume us. Blocking roads leading to hospitals is not just reckless but also inhumane. Imagine if it were any of you lying in an ambulance, fighting for your life, and some protestors were preventing the vehicle from reaching the emergency room. Would you still write a post applauding their actions or call for their release?
I understand the frustration that comes from seeing our environment and future being stripped away by greed and corruption, but we cannot afford to lose our moral compass while addressing the issue of galamsey. Instead of allowing anger, frustration and hatred for the Nana Dee government to cloud our judgment, we should focus on maintaining peace while seeking justice. If we lose control, we will not only fail to solve the problem but also create new ones.
Your praise of the protesters who disrupted public order reflects a dangerous trend of normalising lawlessness in the name of activism. What we praise and endorse today becomes the standard of behaviour tomorrow. Do you folks really want to live in a society where blocking roads, preventing access to essential services like hospitals, and creating public unrest are seen as acceptable forms of protest?
Some of you mentioned that these actions were merely “excesses” and should be overlooked because the cause is just. One who falls into a river must quickly swim out, not just talk about it. While it is easy to excuse the mistakes of the protesters by claiming their cause was noble, that does not erase the consequences of their actions. Blocking a hospital road is not just an inconvenience; it is a threat to human life. One person who dies because they couldn’t reach the hospital in time due to these protests is one too many. You cannot claim to support justice while turning a blind eye to such injustices.
The government, law enforcement, and the courts have a duty to maintain order. If protests cross the line into lawlessness, they must be dealt with accordingly. The fact that the protestors were remanded is not an indication of government repression, but of due process. Laws exist to protect society, and when those laws are broken, consequences must follow.
Your call feels like a betrayal of the principles of fairness and justice. Our society has always thrived on respect for the rule of law, respect for human dignity, and a recognition that our rights end where another’s begin. If we forget these principles in our pursuit of justice, we will end up destroying the very society we seek to save.
We are not wrong to protest against galamsey, but a person who goes to fight without a just cause is fighting in vain. The fight against galamsey must be grounded in lawful action, coordinated efforts with the government, and strategies that preserve peace. It is not through street chaos that we will save our lands, but through organised, strategic, and peaceful advocacy. Anything less is pathetic reasoning.
As my late father used to say, “Wisdom doesn’t lie in showing foolishness; it is in pointing the right path.” It is never too late to rethink your stance and come back to the table of reason. We can all agree that galamsey is a problem, but how we address it makes all the difference in the world. Protests should bring awareness, not chaos.
See you next week for another interesting konkonsa, Deo volente!