The Leadership of Sera Matrix in partnership with International Republican Institute (IRI) has charged Ghanaian Journalists to reactivate the fight against illegal mining in the country.
According to Sera Matrix, although it is deadly fight, he is confident the fight will be won.
In an exclusive interview with Thinknewsonline.com, the Executive Partner of Sera Matrix, Kojo Impraim said "I know this is a dangerous and deadly fight but if we come together, we will win the battle"
Explaining the rationale behind the tag 'The Crying Voices', he said "We are of the view that the voices of people that matter on the demand side of illegal mining have been muted for far too long. These are the unemployed youths, persons with disability among others"
He added that he is confident, the Editor's Forum will not only gather under one umbrella critical thinkers but also task Journalists to reactive the fight against the galamsey.
Mr. Impraim further noted that he is saddened by how the activities of the Chinese have not only destroyed the rivers bodies and lands but also rendered most persons poor.
Sharing his horrible experiences while covering illegal activities, Investigative Journalist, Erastus Asare Donkor said "I gave up at a point because all my efforts weren't appreciated. I defied odds and went to dangerous zones to name and shame the wrong doers"
Erastus challenged the Akufo-Addo government to reassign a special team to reinvestigate the already dispatched military men.
The seasoned Journalist stressed that should President Akufo-Addo turn a blind eye on the activities of illegal miners in the country, it will spell doom.
He called on fellow Journalists to come together and win the war.
"Some of my colleagues are even engaged in the activities and they share information with them. There is hardship in the country and so if an illegal miners should bribe a media person with GHc50,000; he or she will sell his/her rights"
Freelance Journalist, Edem Srem said "I have been told by miners that the task force come to them and take money from them and they leave them to work"
Mr. Srem added that some task force members are in the galamsey business to enriches.
Mr. Srem suggested that once the foreigner nationals are put into groups and given a specific area to mine, it will help in confining them.
"This means that once they go beyond the area, you can punish them or if you give them an area and you give them a regulation that after mining, they have to cover the pit and make sure that the place is reclaimed then that is possible but to leave them to do whatever they like will not help solve matters"
Mr. Srem took a swipe at the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), saying it has failed Journalists in the country.
On her part, Zubaida Mabuno Ismail told the gathering that about 10% of Ghanaian women have ventured into activities neglecting the health complications.
She added that although worrying, the women do so inorder to gather money to feed their family.
"In Tarkwa where I grew up, it was sometimes difficult to get water and now that the activities of galamsey has taken over, I cry for my people"
"The environment has also been polluted because of the chemicals used in the illegal mining. It has even made the storing of rainwater a problem"
He appealed to fellow Journalists to defy all odds and come together to win the fight.
Below are some pictures:
Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith