President of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), Albert Kwabena Dwumfour, has called on President John Dramani Mahama to issue a bold national policy statement reaffirming Ghana’s commitment to ending illegal mining once and for all.
His appeal follows a violent attack on a joint Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) inspection team and journalists at Dadwene, near Obuasi in the Ashanti Region, on Thursday, November 6, 2025. The incident occurred during an EPA operation aimed at clamping down on unauthorised mining activities.
The operation reportedly turned chaotic when suspected illegal miners attacked the team, forcing them to flee. In the process, their vehicle was involved in an accident that left several people injured. Among the injured were four journalists — Citi FM/Channel One TV’s Doris Lonta, two reporters from Multimedia Group Limited, one from Media General, a Multimedia cameraman, and two EPA officials.
Speaking at the 2025 GJA National Media Awards held at the Manhyia Palace, Mr. Dwumfour described the galamsey menace as a full-blown national security crisis, warning that illegal miners have become “bolder, more daring, and increasingly violent.”
“Today, while we rejoice, we are equally sad because some of our colleagues are not here with us. They are in the hospital fighting for their lives after following EPA officials on a galamsey assignment,” he said in what he termed the “Manhyia Declaration.”
Mr. Dwumfour also condemned the recent attack on the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) boss and his team at Hwidiem, describing it as “a direct assault on the authority of the state and the rule of law.”
“The GJA demands that the Ghana Police Service brief the nation on the progress of the investigation and leave no stone unturned. Anything short of swift and firm justice will erode public confidence in the state’s ability to protect those who serve the national interest,” he said.
He urged the government to act decisively and demonstrate genuine political will to end the galamsey scourge, noting that the time for half measures and rhetoric is long past.
“The time to act decisively and send a clear message is now,” Mr. Dwumfour emphasised.
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