THE DIGGER: JUSTICE AFEKEH
Justice, a 20-year-old who began mining in the pits only 2 weeks before the start of the film, finds himself in the most dangerous yet profitable aspect of the work - the digging. Risking his life day and night, Justice, along with his fellow miners, climbs down narrow holes nearly 400 feet to help pull gold-laden quartz rock out of the Earth. He digs not only to survive, but in hopes that in 2 months he will earn enough to leave the work and enter technical school to become a mechanic. But the longer he stays in the galamsey camps, the more he realizes how dangerous the job is and how he doesn’t want to risk his life like the other galamsey miners. Justice eventually finds himself back in his one-room apartment, laying on his bed, sick from the work and unsure about the future.
THE MILLER: ABDUL LATIF
Abdul, a 23-year-old miller and devout Muslim, enjoys owning a galamsey mill because of the prosperity it has brought to his life but is unaware of the dangers that the dust and the mercury used to purify the gold pose to his health. A devout Muslim, Adbul sees galamsey work as worthwhile and profitable, earning him enough to help support his family. He hopes to continue and expand his business into the future and one day build a house for his family.
THE REFINER: EMMANUEL ASAMOAH
After being accepted to a top Ghanaian university, Emmanuel, 19, joins a galamsey refinery in hopes of saving money for tuition. An ardent Christian, Emmanuel finds time to study organic chemistry and business on his computer outside of the workplace in preparation for his upcoming university life. But Emmanuel soon realizes that working in a galamsey refinery will yield not nearly enough to cover university tuition. Will the university ever become a reality for Emmanuel, or is he destined to continue slogging away at the harmful fires of the galamsey refinery? Fortunately for Emmanuel, working in the refinery turns out to be providing just enough to cover his tuition costs, and he finds himself looking forward to a bright future at the University of Ghana, Cape Coast.
THE CHARACTERS
THE EXPERTS
HELP MAKE THE FILM
