Accra: The Ghana Journalist Association (GJA), Western Region Chapter, has condemned the recent attack on the Western Regional correspondents of Citi News, Angel TV, and ABC News/Despite Media by illegal miners operating in the Breman-Adomanya forest area in the Western Region. The Association said the violence against the journalists was not only affecting press freedom but was a direct threat to Ghana's democracy and environmental sustainability.
According to Ghana News Agency, a statement signed by Mr. Desmond Cudjoe, the GJA Western Region Chairman, highlighted that the fearless investigation and report by the journalists revealed the alarming encroachment of 'galamsey' operators into protected forest reserves. The statement further noted a crisis compounded by the assailants' destruction of reporting equipment and attempts to suppress the truth.
The statement emphasized the critical role of the media in holding power accountable and safeguarding public interest. It urged authorities to swiftly bring the perpetrators to justice and intensify efforts to combat illegal mining, which continues to devastate communities, ecosystems, and livelihoods.
The GJA lauded the victims, Mr. Akwasi Agyei Annim, Mr. Henry Emil Fynn, and Mr. Jacob Adu-Baah, for their bravery and commitment to ethical journalism. The Association called on the government to prioritize journalists' safety and ensure their unfettered access to report on public issues, warning that silence in the face of such attacks fosters impunity and erodes democracy's foundation.
The statement reaffirmed the GJA's commitment to defending press freedom and supporting journalists who speak truth to power. It urged all media stakeholders and civil society to unite in condemning violence against the press and demand urgent action to end the galamsey menace.
