Minister calls for stakeholders’ support against illegal mining

Sunyani, July 29, GNA – Mr Kwaku Asomah-Cheremeh, the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources has appealed to stakeholders to support government in her effort to prevent and out-law illegal mining activities in the country.

He said the media, civil society and community-based organisations, Water Resources Commission, Environmental Protection Agency, traditional authorities and all citizens were needed on board to ensure responsible mining.

“Government is not against mineral resource extraction, but doing it judiciously to protect and preserve the environment to promote sustainable development is the ultimate objective”, the Minister declared.

Mr Asomah-Cheremeh made the appeal at the maiden awards night of the Bono, Bono East and Ahafo Regions’ branch of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) in Sunyani.

On the theme: "Promoting Responsible Mining: The Role of The Media", the event was jointly sponsored by Newmont GoldCorps Ghana, Bui Power Authority, ActionAid Ghana,  XTRYM Consortium (a Sunyani-based advertising, graphic designing, web designing and industrial video and digital photographic services company) and the Bono Regional Coordinating Council. 

It was to recognise and award deserving Journalists whose works pertaining to identified categories of public interest in 2018 contributed to the growth of Journalism as well as the development of the region and the nation.

Mr Asomah-Cheremeh described the theme as laudable and very significant because achieving zero illegal mining situation and observing best mining practices could create diverse employment opportunities to boost rural economies for accelerated national socio-economic development.

He warned recalcitrant and greedy Ghanaians who were still involved in the menace to desist from that to avoid drastic punishment of either a 15-year jail term or a 150,000 penalty units of GH¢ 12.00 per unit.     

Mr Roland Affail Monney, the President of GJA charged Journalists to always prioritise national interest in their reportage because irresponsible journalism could retrogress the nation’s developmental agenda.

According to him, most citizens depended on the information from the media to make informed decisions and choices, hence, whatever a professionally-trained Journalist would write and say must be unbiased and objective enough to serve the interest of all segments of the society.

The award covered reports on categories, which included education, health, sanitation, environment, disability, agriculture, entertainment, sports, child protection and feature.

Others were Most Promising Journalist of the Year, Best Morning Show Host of the year, Best Morning Show Programme of the year (English/Twi), Social Protection and Awareness Programme of the year, Best Entertainment Show of the year, Best Sports Entertainment Show of the year and Best Radio Station of the year.

Mr Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah, the Bono, Bono East and Ahafo Regions’ correspondent of the Daily Graphic was adjudged the overall Best Journalist of the year.

GNA

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