The Media Coalition against Illegal Mining has urged the government to declare a State of Emergency on 44 forest reserves, of which nine have been overtaken by illegal miners in the country.
Dr. Kenneth Ashigbey, the convenor of the coalition, highlighted the critical situation, stating, “The situation is dire and requires immediate attention and drastic measures to end the menace.” He added, “We need to treat the galamsey menace as a situation of war and declare affected areas as no-go zones, with a state of emergency to protect the forest reserves.”
Speaking to Original TV News, Dr. Ashigbey emphasized the pivotal role journalists have played in combating galamsey since 2016. “Journalists have been the tool to fight the galamsey menace. If they are being attacked, then the very survival of our country is at stake,” he stated.
Dr. Ashigbey also urged President John Mahama to consider attacks on journalists as assaults on the democratic principles he stands for. “These criminal illegal miners intend to hide their activities, hence the attack on the very tool that would be used to fight the galamsey menace,” he explained.
Dr. Ashigbey’s comments come in the wake of a disturbing incident involving Citi FM journalist Akwesi Agyei Annim, who was attacked at a galamsey site in the Wassa Amenfi West District of the Western Region.
By Eric Bekoe (KOB)
