The Private Newspapers and Online News Publishers Association of Ghana (PRINPAG) has issued a strong condemnation of the ongoing illegal mining activities, commonly known as galamsey, that are causing rampant destruction of Ghana’s water bodies, forests, and overall environment.

The association described the environmental devastation caused by galamsey, driven by greed and monetary gain, as a grave threat to the nation's well-being and its future.

In a statement issued by its national secretariat on Tuesday, September 10, 2024, PRINPAG called on its members to join the national crusade against galamsey, warning failure to address this menace could lead to a disaster for the country.

The association urged its members to take a firm and objective stand against the practice as part of a collective effort to protect the survival of communities and the preservation of Ghana’s natural resources.

As part of its commitment to the cause, PRINPAG encouraged its members to expose individuals and groups involved in these illegal activities.

It urged its members to publish the names and pictures of those implicated in galamsey on the front pages of their newspapers and websites, thereby holding the culprits accountable to the public.

The association also emphasised the importance of resisting any monetary or material inducements that could compromise their efforts, stating such actions would undermine the fight against galamsey.

PRINPAG also called on Ghana's Parliament to show leadership in this fight, taking inspiration from figures like the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, and to act in the national interest without partisanship.

The association underscored the need for state institutions to enforce environmental laws and utilise technology to mitigate the environmental destruction caused by illegal mining.

To further support the national effort, PRINPAG announced plans to engage in a "naming and shaming" campaign in the coming days and weeks to expose all those involved in illegal mining activities, regardless of their position or influence.

The association also issued a stern warning any member found directly involved in galamsey, or those who have been financially or materially influenced to sabotage the sssociation's fight, would face expulsion after disciplinary procedures.

PRINPAG expressed its full support for the efforts of the Media Coalition Against Illegal Mining and urged its members across the country to back the coalition's initiatives to curb the effects of the galamsey menace.

“The fight against galamsey is a collective one, and PRINPAG pledges its readiness to support the national effort to address this critical issue,” the statement concluded.

The statement was signed by the  President, Andrew Edwin Arthur; the Vice President, Michael Antwi Agyei; and the Executive Secretary, Jeorge Wilson Kingson.