President John Dramani Mahama has said his administration will ensure that those who attack journalists face justice.
He stated that under his administration, intimidation and attacks on journalists will not be countenanced.
President Mahama underscored the important role journalists play in Ghana’s democracy, for which a whole chapter in the constitution has been dedicated to journalists, he said.
Speaking during the 29th GJA awards on Saturday, November 8, he said, “In our democracy, and that is why it has dedicated an entire chapter to journalists”
“My administration will not tolerate any form of intimidation or attacks on journalists,” he added,
President of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), Mr. Albert Kwabena Dwumfour, has appealed to President Mahama to issue a bold national policy statement, which he termed the “Manhyia Declaration” to reaffirm Ghana’s commitment to ending illegal mining, once and for all.
Speaking at under the theme “Self-Guarding Ghana: The Role of the Media in Promoting Security and Peace,” he described the galamsey issue as a full-blown national security crisis, cautioning that galamsey operators have become “bolder, more daring, and increasingly violent.”
“Galamsey is no longer just an environmental problem it has become a threat to national security,” he said.
“The time to act decisively and send a clear message that impunity will not be tolerated is now.
He was sad that some journalists could not attend the event because they were fighting for their lives after being involved in an accident while covering illegal mining operations in the Ashanti Region alongside officials of the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA).
He reiterated the GJA’s commitment to collaborate with the National Security Secretariat and other relevant agencies to ensure that the affected journalists receive urgent medical attention and welfare support.
“We stand in solidarity with our colleagues who were injured while pursuing the national interest,” he said. “This incident reminds us of the grave risks journalists face when exposing the destruction caused by illegal mining.”
He condemned recent armed attacks on EPA enforcement teams by illegal miners, describing the assaults as “cowardly and treasonous acts” that undermine the authority of the state and the rule of law.
“This outrageous act is not only a direct assault on hardworking officers but also a grave attack on Ghana’s collective resolve to protect its environment and secure the future of generations yet unborn,” he said.
He appealed to the Ghana Police Service to update the nation on ongoing investigations and ensure that perpetrators are arrested and prosecuted without delay.
“Anything short of swift and firm justice will embolden lawlessness and erode public confidence in the state’s ability to protect those who serve the national interest,” he warned.
He praised the President for his engagement with civil society organizations on anti-galamsey initiatives and said more decisive and symbolic actions were needed to restore confidence in the government’s fight.
“Mr. President, the time has come for a bold, symbolic step that communicates to Ghanaians and the world that this government is fully committed to winning the war against galamsey,” he appealed.
“A ‘Manhyia Declaration’ made here, in the presence of Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, would carry both moral and political weight and reassure the nation that the government’s eyes remain firmly on the ball.”
Citing the latest Auditor-General’s report, he said that surcharge monies recovered from financial mismanagement be redirected into anti-galamsey operations.
The GJA President further appealed for joint operations between the National Security Ministry and the media, led by the GJA, to enhance transparency and ensure public accountability in the anti-galamsey fight.
“We must wake up as a nation before it is too late,” he stated.
