Galamsey fight: PRINPAG calls for media action against environmental destruction

The Private Newspapers and Online News Publishers Association of Ghana (PRINPAG) has strongly condemned the destructive effects of illegal mining, commonly known as “galamsey,” on the country’s environment.

PRINPAG described the ongoing devastation of water bodies, forests, and ecosystems as a severe threat to Ghana’s future, driven by greed and a relentless pursuit of monetary gain.

In a statement released on Tuesday, September 10, 2024, by its national secretariat, PRINPAG called for urgent collective action to tackle the menace of galamsey. The association urged its members to actively participate in the national fight against illegal mining, warning that failure to curb the practice could result in an environmental catastrophe.

PRINPAG encouraged its members to adopt a firm and impartial stance against galamsey, stressing the need to protect the country’s natural resources and ensure the survival of communities that rely on them. The association also urged its members to expose individuals and organizations engaged in illegal mining operations by publishing their names and photos prominently on the front pages of newspapers and websites, holding the perpetrators accountable to the public.

Additionally, the association warned against accepting financial or material inducements that could undermine the fight against galamsey. It reiterated that such compromises would only weaken the national effort to combat illegal mining and its devastating consequences.

The statement signed by PRINPAG President Andrew Edwin Arthur, Vice President Michael Antwi Agyei, and Executive Secretary Jeorge Wilson Kingson also called on Ghana’s Parliament to take a leadership role in addressing the galamsey crisis, urging lawmakers to prioritize the national interest over partisan politics. The association specifically highlighted the leadership of the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, as a model for others to follow in the fight against illegal mining.

The statement emphasized the importance of enforcing environmental laws and leveraging technology to minimize the destruction caused by galamsey. PRINPAG announced its plans to launch a “naming and shaming” campaign in the coming weeks to expose those involved in illegal mining activities, regardless of their status or influence.

In a bid to maintain integrity within its ranks, PRINPAG warned that any member found to be directly involved in galamsey or accepting bribes to undermine the association’s efforts would face disciplinary action, including potential expulsion.

The association expressed its full support for the Media Coalition Against Illegal Mining and encouraged its members nationwide to back the coalition’s initiatives to end galamsey.

“The fight against galamsey is a collective responsibility, and PRINPAG is fully committed to supporting the national effort to address this critical issue,” the statement concluded.

Source: modernghana.com