The media
The Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) has expressed grave concerns about threats allegedly made against its members by some ‘galamseyers’ in the Central, Ashanti and Brong Ahafo Regions for exposing their illegal activities.
GJA, in a statement signed by its president, Affail Monney, observed that “according to these reports, the galamseyers have vowed to teach the journalists a lesson if they refuse to halt their exposure on illegal mining.”
The leadership of GJA expressed concerns about the fact that the threats were coming on the heels of the heinous killing of Captain Maxwell Mahama at Denkyira Obuasi in the Central Region.
“We take cue from the murder of the army officer since one does not need any superfluity of security intelligence to conclude that similar fate or something tragic can befall the journalists, especially those who fetch stories in the heart of the galamsey enclaves if nothing concrete is done to protect them.”
“We therefore urge the law and order community, especially the Chief of Defence Staff and Inspector General of Police to act with urgent promptitude and provide maximum security for journalists, who risk their lives to do anti-galamsey stories, as well as those who champion the crusade against illegal mining,” it disclosed.
By Melvin Tarlue