Ing. Dr. Kenneth Ashigbey, Convenor of the Media Coalition Against Galamsey, has urged Ghanaian journalists and media outlets to intensify their efforts in the fight against illegal mining, known as galamsey.
He warned journalists to stay vigilant and not lose focus, highlighting the severe destruction galamsey has caused to water bodies and forests.
Dr. Ashigbey’s appeal comes after Organised Labour suspended its nationwide strike against galamsey, which was set for Thursday, October 10, in response to the government’s promise to address the issue.
The government has instructed the Minister of Defence to deploy additional troops to strengthen “Operation Halt,” a military effort to combat illegal mining.
Speaking in an interview with Bernard Avle on Channel One TV’s The Point of View, Ing. Dr. Ashigbey emphasized that journalists must continue to hold the government accountable for its recent commitments to fight galamsey, stressing the importance of sustained scrutiny and attention.
He also highlighted the essential role of journalists and media houses in advocating for sustainable mining practices and protecting Ghana’s natural resources.
“Our job [media] currently is that fact that we need to bring pressure to bear on all the people to ensure that what has been said, the end goal of ending galamsey, we’re doing it, and we are mounting it, so that is what we should be doing.
“And I will urge the media at this point, let’s not lose our focus from what the fight is. Let us not allow those who came to join us recently to take our focus off the fight. Let’s keep our focus on the fight, let them deal with their issues as labour.”
