The President of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) has urged all presidential candidates in the upcoming 2024 elections to commit to combating illegal mining, commonly known as “galamsey.”
His appeal comes as the country continues to face the environmental destruction caused by galamsey, particularly its impact on water bodies.
Speaking at the 75th GJA Awards held at the Accra International Conference Centre on September 28, 2024, the GJA President called for accountability, stressing that both the media and the public must hold future leaders to their promises regarding the fight against galamsey.
He specifically addressed the two leading presidential candidates, as well as others contesting the elections, urging them to declare their stance on the issue.
“Let me use this opportunity to implore the two leading presidential candidates and all other presidential candidates to make a firm commitment to the fight against galamsey so we can hold them accountable when any of them assume office in 2025”
The GJA President also encouraged the media to intensify their coverage of the issue by using the hashtag #StopGalamseyNow in their reports, highlighting the importance of sustained public pressure to eliminate illegal mining.
“I urge the media to prefix all their stories with #StopGalamseyNow. We, from the GJA perspective, are also not stopping until galamsey stops”
In addition, the GJA President repeated the association’s call for the government to declare a state of emergency over the country’s water bodies, which have been heavily impacted by galamsey operations.
He called for an immediate halt to all mining activities within 100 meters of rivers and streams and advocated for the cancellation of mining concessions that overlap with river buffer zones.
“We still maintain that a state of emergency should be declared over our water bodies, and all active mining concessions overlapping with river buffers should be abrogated. All mining activities within 100 meters of rivers and streams should be halted with immediate effect”
He further reiterated the association’s demand for the repeal of Legislative Instrument (LI) 2462, which governs water use in mining operations.
“We also reiterate that LI 2462 should be repealed immediately,”
Story by: Akpalu Edmond Deladem | univers.ug.edu.gh
