Galamsey Crisis: GJA boss calls for more action from Akufo-Addo before ending tenure

President of the Ghana Journalists Association (GFA), Albert Kwabena Dwumfour has urged President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to use the last three months of his second term to end illegal mining (galamsey).

In a speech at the 28th GJA Awards, Albert Kwabena Dwumfour reminded President Akufo-Addo of his promise to stop galamsey when elected President, adding that the promise has not been fulfilled.

The GJA President in his speech stressed the need for President Akufo-Addo to declare a state of emergency as part of measures to address the galamsey menace in the country.

“We are aware that some time ago, Mr. President, the father of the nation made a promise to stop galamsey but regrettably that promise has not been fulfilled Mr. President. You are barely three months until the end of your administration and we are hopeful that you will deal with the situation before you leave office.

“We still maintain that a state of emergency must be declared over our water bodies and all planned and active mining concessions overlapping with river buffers should be abrogated and all mining activities within 100 meters buffer of all rivers and streams should be halted with immediate effect,” GJA President Albert Kwabena Dwumfour.

In his speech, the GJA President also called for the immediate repeal of L.I 2462.

Before the call on the President, Dr. Ayew Afriyie, the Middle Belt Campaign Coordinator for Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has indicated that the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) will not stop galamsey operators ahead of the 2024 general election.

Lashing out at Ghanaians calling for an end to galamsey to protect the country’s river bodies, Dr. Ayew Afriyie stressed that the NPP government will not stop galamsey today or tomorrow.

“They saw that we are winning the seats in the mining areas so they decided to go and import foreigners. When they brought them they told them to go and mine in the water. They want us to go and stop the galamseyers so that we lose our seats.

"We won't stop the Galamsey operators today or tomorrow. This is sabotage to make us lose our seats in Galamsey constituencies,” Dr. Ayew Afriyie said at a campaign rally by the NPP.