By Jeremiah Nutsugah
Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) President Albert Dwumfuor has sounded the alarm on the devastating impact of galamsey, urging the government to take drastic measures to protect the country’s environment and water bodies.
Speaking at the 28th GJA Awards on September 28, 2924, Dwumfuor emphasized the need for strict enforcement of mining laws and regulations without concessions.
He pleaded with President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to declare a state of emergency over water bodies affected by galamsey and abrogate all planned and active mining concessions overlapping with river buffers.
“Galamsey has wreaked havoc on our environment and water bodies,” Dwumfuor lamented. “As Ghanaians, we must wage a war against this menace.”
The GJA president recalled the association’s recent press conference, organized in cooperation with the media coalition against galamsey and other civil society organizations, calling for an end to the destructive practice.
With only three months left in office, Dwumfuor urged President Akufo-Addo to take decisive action against galamsey before leaving office.
He also called on presidential candidates to make a firm commitment to fighting galamsey, ensuring accountability when in office.
Dwumfuor rallied the media to join the fight, encouraging journalists to prefix their stories with #StopGalamseyNow to raise awareness and promote action.
The GJA’s stance aligns with concerns raised by experts and organizations about the environmental and health impacts of galamsey, including water pollution and deforestation.
