The Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) has commended the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Hon. Armah Kofi Buah for his commitment to support Journalist attacked in line of anti-galamsey works.
Addressing a news conference in Accra on Thursday, the GJA President Albert Kwabena Dwumfour said the Minister’s statement gives hope and encouragement to the media Fraternity.
“The GJA commends the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources for its statement on the attacks on the journalists and its assurance of working to check illegal mining and support for journalists to continue shedding light on the illegal mining activities”, the GJA President emphasized.
He however entreated the Ministry not to relent on its efforts to ending galamsey stressing that “the GJA will be monitoring its actions and inactions towards the fight”.
Mr. Dwumfour underscored the need for galamsey fight to be intensified by state agencies adding that the GJA reiterates its position on illegal mining which it has echoed severally at various platforms.
According to the GJA President, the actions it took at its last Awards at the Accra International Conference as well as it’s participation in the Ghana Coalition Against Galamsey lays credence to that fact.
He expressed worry over how water bodies and farm lands have been destroyed owing to galamsey.
“Ladies and gentlemen the galamsey menace is still with us. Our forest reserves, water bodies and farmlands are being destroyed and degraded with reckless abandon, all in the name of gold mining. In the mining communities, law and order are crumbling under the weight of impunity, with associated human rights abuses, adverse and forced possession of individual lands and farms while the decentralized administrative arms of government and traditional authorities seem to be helpless”, he said.
He later welcomed the assurances and commitment of President Mahama towards the fight against galamsey and that “it is our prayer that he will not relent or give up but honour his promise of stopping the illegal mining in the country”.
“He can count on the full support of the GJA and the Media Coalition in ending this life threating canker”,
Mr. President, the time to act is NOW!!!”, he added.
Source:www.senaradioonline.com
