Social media as a trigger for positive political action: The case of Ghana's fight against illegal small-scale mining (Galamsey)

Abstract

A shift from social media being a medium of communication to being a voice of the people is underway. Nations have experienced a fair share of the use of social media in raising the awareness on certain cankers in society – some successful and others barren. Recent social media activism moves have instigated a general uprising on the issue which has been plaguing Ghana’s natural resources and health of residents of illegal small-scale mining communities.

Our study analyzed approximately 11,000 tweets made between 1st March 2017 to 1st March 2018 on Twitter with the hashtag – #StopGalamseyNow. Our results reveal an insight into the reactions of Ghanaians and the level of outrage expressed which led to the raising of awareness by the media, and government acting swiftly to curb the menace.

Ghana’s action is a testament to the fact that social media is a potent agent in political action (keeping government on its toes) in order to bring about national growth and establishing the true meaning of democratic governance.

This study presents the use of social media as a vehicle for positive activism in bringing socioeconomic development coupled with the traditional media in amplifying the cries of citizens.

Keywords:

• social media
• activism
• small-scale mining
• Galamsey
• Ghana
• text mining

Acknowledgement

ORCID

Ebenezer Agbozo http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2413-3815

Kamen Spassov http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7788-0825

Notes

1 World Bank Country Profile, Ghana, Available at: http://www.worldbank.org/en/country/ghana/overview

2 Ghana Web, Galamsey pit collapse: Never again! – John Jinapor, https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/Galamsey-pit-collapse-Neveragain-John-Jinapor-556668

3 Daily Guide Africa, 14 People Feared Dead in Galamsey Pit Collapse, Available at: http://dailyguideafrica.com/14-people-feared-dead-galamsey-pit-collapse/

4 Ghana Web, Provocative conscience: #StopGalamsey, Available at: https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/Provocative-conscience-StopGalamsey-535742

5 CitiFM Online, 2017, #StopGalamseyNow campaign turns attention to water bodies, Available at: http://citifmonline.com/2017/04/28/stopgalamseynow-campaign-turnsattention-to-water-bodies/

6 CitiFMOnline, 2017, Galamsey fight: River Pra showing signs of improvement, http://citifmonline.com/2017/06/04/galamsey-fight-river-pra-showing-signs-ofimprovement/

7 The #OPENUGMCNow Campaign which was started on social media was in response to Ghana’s failing healthcare system which is not able to meet the needs of the underprivileged citizens; meanwhile, for certain reasons, newly constructed and furbished hospitals had been left to deteriorate while patients struggle for space in other hospitals and clinics. The Government of Ghana’s attention was suddenly drawn to the plight of citizens’ activism via social media and the collaborative effort of the traditional media. Available at: https://www.modernghana.com/news/856912/openugmcnow-campaigntakes-off-on-social-media.html (#OpenUGMCNow Campaign Takes Off On Social Media)