President of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), Albert Kwabena Dwumfour, has called on journalists to reignite their campaign against illegal small-scale mining, commonly known as galamsey.

He expressed concern over the waning media focus on galamsey, despite the positive impact of past efforts. Mr. Dwumfour suggested that if authorities had sustained their actions, the state of water bodies could have improved.

Mr. Dwumfour made these remarks during the World Press Freedom Day 2024 commemoration at the Koforidua Technical University on Friday, May 3.

“The GJA seeks to lead a strong media campaign for the protection of the environment and the good of the country. In that regard, we wish to call on the media to resume the concerted campaign against illegal small-scale mining, popularly known as ‘Galamsey’.

“In the past, our collective action in the fight against ‘galamsey’ yielded positive results, as we brought the issues to national attention for action.

“But for the retrogression in action by duty bearers, sanity would have prevailed, and our land and water bodies would have been healed by now. That notwithstanding, withdrawing from our duty, as we have done now, is more harmful to the nation.”

He also urged journalists to focus on other pressing environmental issues, such as sanitation and climate change.

“Apart from ‘galamsey’, the GJA wishes to call on the media to focus on and address other environmental issues such as sanitation and climate change. We will soon announce a comprehensive agenda on these environmental concerns.

He also called on duty bearers to take significant actions to combat deforestation.

“We also urge duty bearers to accept responsibility by taking significant actions to combat this scourge, such as deforestation, which has the potential to devastate our land,” he advised.