The Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources has strongly condemned the recent attack on journalists from Citi News by illegal miners, commonly referred to as galamsey operators, in the Breman-Adomanya forest area of the Wassa Amenfi West District in the Western Region.
According to the Ministry, the illegal miners not only destroyed timber, cocoa trees, and rubber farms but also polluted the nearby River Tano.
The attack on media personnel, who were carrying out their duty to inform the public, has been described as “utterly unacceptable” and a direct violation of press freedom and the rule of law.
In a statement signed by the Head of the Public Relations Unit, Abraham Otabil, the Ministry emphasized that illegal mining remains a national crisis, posing severe environmental and social threats. “These operators not only destroy our environment, pollute our water bodies, and degrade our forests, but they also resort to violence and intimidation to protect their illicit activities,” the statement read.
The Ministry reaffirmed the government’s commitment to fighting illegal mining and called for collective efforts from all stakeholders, including government agencies, traditional leaders, local communities, and the media, to curb the menace.
Furthermore, the Ministry commended the bravery of the journalists who risked their lives to expose the truth, highlighting the critical role of the media in holding perpetrators accountable.
Sending a strong warning to the attackers, the Ministry assured the public that security agencies would be working to bring those responsible to justice. “The government will not tolerate such lawlessness. Those responsible will face the full rigors of the law,” the statement concluded.
