The Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) has called on the government to ensure the safety and protection of journalists reporting from mining areas, particularly those covering issues related to illegal mining, known locally as galamsey.
At a press conference held on April 23, 2025, at the Ghana International Press Centre, GJA President, Mr. Albert Kwabena Dwumfour, emphasized the urgent need for government intervention to safeguard journalists who risk their lives to report from mining sites.
Mr. Dwumfour acknowledged the positive steps taken by the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources in addressing the galamsey menace.
He commended the Sector Minister, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, for his commitment to the fight, describing his efforts as a “show of genuine resolve.”
However, he stressed that more decisive action is required to curb the illegal mining threat.
These include the repeal of laws permitting mining in forest reserves and the declaration of a state of emergency in severely affected areas.
“We also demand from the Minister and the government, the protection of journalists and facilitation of their work in mining fields to enable them discharge their duties without hindrance, fear, and threat to their lives,” Mr. Dwumfour stated.
“We urge the Minister to collaborate with the GJA to fashion out ways in which the media can play greater and more impactful roles in the fight against galamsey,” he added.
He highlighted the critical role the media play in exposing environmental degradation caused by illegal mining and lamented that no institution has remained as consistently committed to the fight as the media.
To reinforce this commitment, Mr. Dwumfour revealed that the GJA has, for several years, maintained an award category dedicated to reporting on galamsey.
This initiative is aimed at encouraging journalists to continue shedding light on the destruction of Ghana’s lands and water bodies.
“We shall never stop this fight until galamsey is knocked out. We wish to commend all our comrades in the field working hard for Mother Ghana, even at the peril of their lives,” he added.
