FROM Daniel Y Dayee, Kumasi
THE PRESIDENT of the Ghana Journalists Association( GJA) Albert Kwabena Dwomfour has expressed worry Ghana continue to face existential and security threats as a result of continuous menace of illegal gold mining otherwise known as galamsey.
Mr. Albert Dwomfour is worried successive governments ignore calls to end the canker making the environmental degradation to continue to negatively affect ordinary Ghanaian citizens.
The Chief Media Practitioner stated his dissappointment in a remark to journalists attending a two- days workshop in Kumasi on mining related issues organized jointly by the Ghana Journalists Association and the Ghana Chamber of Mines.
The workshop was intended to sharpen skills of media practioners and update their knowledge on mining laws and regulations to fight against the canker..
They were from mining regions including Western, Western North, Ahafo, Bono, Bono East and Eastern regions. The workshop allow them to brainstorm on how best to hold government and industry players accountable to citizens to derive the much needed benefits.
Addressing the media them, the GJA President reminded his members the huge responsibility they have to play in ending the illegal gold mining menace.
‘Help the nation find solutions to the problem, the media should contribute to ending the menace. A well equiped journalist is a powerful force to hold the powers that be to account. You need critical knowledge to report on mining issues hence the decision by the GJA to collaborate with the Ghana Chamber of Mines to organize this workshop to educate you on regulations, laws and policies that affect illegal mining in the country.
The country needs stories that not only inform but attack the impunity going on with the galamsey issue.
According to him, the Ghsna Chamber of Mines recognises the critical role journalists play in sharping narrations in the country thus agreed to train the media practioners on what going on in the industry.
Stories on mining in the media are inadequate. Galamsey is a national security threat such that use of harmful chemicals in water bodies are causing cardiouvascular diseases but successive governments lack the political will to hold the bull by the horn.
He thus wondered , ‘When will Ghana see an end to the canker so pleads with his members to do their best to help save the country.
He, however singled out the Chief Executive Officer of the Chamber of Mines, Engineer Dr Ken Ashigbey for praises saying his relentless effort to seeing end to the menace is commendable so urged colleagues journalists to compliment the effort by reporting on issues that affect the environment in the country as a result of the illegal mining.
‘ Thus workshopshop should serve as a call to action, he told them.
On his part, the CEO of the Ghana Chamber of Mines, Dr. Kenneth Ashigbey said the mining industry is playing crucial role to partner government to develop the country so asked the media men to highlightd all aspects of the industry including contributions the sector makes to the Gross Domestic Product of the country.
‘We should state how mining is helping to build modern Ghana, building infrastructure and giving direct and indirect employment to Ghanaians. You must hold government accountable to gold receipts that are supposed to be used to develop the country.
We want stories that generate accountability. This year alone Ghana produces 5-5m ounces of gold and is expected to exceed that. The Goldbod is good but by buying from the small scale miners it is encouraging them to continue to do the illegal gold mining activites
According him, to be able hold government accountable journalists needed to understand technicalities in the industry so can report accurately by holding industry players to account and tell stories of mining communities that are often at receiving end.
‘Journalists should not be quiet, your tasks as journalists is not about who is in power but to make sure society is shaped for the right things.
Thus, you must report on community water projects by mining companies and also and how find out government contribution from mining receipts to the communities.
Your stories must at the same time safeguard the environment and expose financial malfeasance.
Participants were taken through provisions of the Minerals & Mining Act, 2006, Act 703.
According to the CEO the Minerals and Mining Act cane to replace the Minerals law, PNDC L 153.
He explained that the Mineral and Mining Act was amendment in 2010, 2015 and 2019 and is currently under review to allow it reflects current exigencies in the mining sector to benefit all stakeholders including government, investors and communities. ‘It is good to know what the act says, he said. .
Engineer Dr Ken Ashigbey explained that one of the rules the review seeks to introduce is the creation of medium scale mining sector to compliment small and large scae mining.
Another thing we want the review introduce is Mineral Revenue Management Law that will monitor receipts flowing from mineral resources by making sure there is judicious use of funds as exist in the petroleum and gas sector of the country.
According to him 50% of Ghana’s gold is being produced by small scale miners explaining currently there are only 14 large scale mining companies under the chamber.
The media practioners learnt government has 10% share in all mining companies and that only three regions of the country have not witnessed mining activities including Volta, Oti and the Greater Accra regions.
This is because there has not been exploration activites to determine availability of gold resources in those regions
Another speaker was Ahmed Dasona Nantogmah, Chief Operation Officer of the Ghana Chamber of Mines who gave an overview of regulating authorities in the mining industry.