Accra: Mr. Albert Dwumfour, President of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), has called for stronger and sustained efforts in the fight against illegal mining, locally known as galamsey. Addressing a press briefing on Tuesday, Mr. Dwumfour warned that the unchecked activities of illegal miners posed a serious threat to water bodies, forest reserves, farmlands, and the broader environment. He cautioned that failure to address the menace urgently could jeopardise the nation’s future.
According to Ghana News Agency, Mr. Dwumfour described the government’s approach to reclaiming forest reserves through security operations as ‘commendable and proactive.’ He noted that ‘eight out of nine forest reserves previously controlled by heavily armed illegal miners’ had been successfully reclaimed by security forces, signalling progress in the fight. Mr. Dwumfour further disclosed that approximately 300 excavators had been seized from illegal miners. He said 44 out of 288 forest reserves had already been taken over by small-scale mining operators.
He maintained that if all stakeholders collaborated effectively, the remaining 35 forest reserves could be rescued from illegal miners. Mr. Dwumfour commended the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources for its leadership role and called on the government to provide regular updates through the media to keep the public informed and engaged. He stressed the need for consistent media coverage, stating that ‘regular updates’ would allow citizens to track government interventions and monitor progress.
Mr. Dwumfour also acknowledged the work of the Ghana Coalition Against Galamsey, led by Dr Kenneth Ashigbey, Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Chamber of Mines. He praised Dr Ashigbey for his commitment and expressed hope that he would continue supporting the coalition ‘until the battle against galamsey was completely won.’ Mr. Dwumfour emphasised the need for collective responsibility in safeguarding Ghana’s natural resources and called on all stakeholders to sustain efforts in protecting the environment. ‘Environmental protection should remain a priority to safeguard the nation’s future,’ he stated.