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President John Dramani Mahama says, his administration will see to it that those who assault journalists are held guilty.
He declared that violence and intimidation of journalists will not be tolerated in his administration.
President Mahama emphasized the vital role that journalists play in Ghana’s democracy, pointing out that a whole chapter of the constitution is devoted to journalists.
“In our democracy, and that is why it has dedicated an entire chapter to journalists,” he remarked while speaking at the 29th GJA awards on Saturday, November 8.
“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 bemoaned that certain journalists, who were fighting for their life after being engaged in an accident while investigating illicit mining operations in the Ashanti Region with Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) personnel, were unable to attend the occasion.
He restated the GJA’s pledge to work with the National Security Secretariat and other pertinent organizations to guarantee that the impacted journalists receive critical medical care and welfare assistance.
“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 urged the Ghana Police Service to keep the public informed about ongoing investigations and make sure that offenders are apprehended and brought to justice as soon as possible.
He cautioned that “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.”
In addition to praising the President for working with civil society organizations on anti-galamsey activities, he stated that in order to rebuild trust in the government’s battle, more decisive and symbolic acts were required.
“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.”
He stated that surcharge funds recovered from financial malfeasance should be used for anti-galamsey efforts, citing the most recent Auditor-General’s report.
In order to improve transparency and guarantee public accountability in the fight against galamsey, the GJA President further urged cooperative efforts between the National Security Ministry and the media, led by the GJA.
“We must wake up as a nation before it is too late,” he added.
Source: Ghanatodayonline.com
