Acting Chief Justice, Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie, has urged journalists and all Ghanaians to embrace the fight against illegal mining, known locally as galamsey, as a moral and national duty, stressing that the menace threatens not only the country’s environment but its peace, dignity, and collective future.
Speaking at the 29th Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) Awards held at the Manhyia Palace under the theme, “Safeguarding Ghana’s Future: The Role of the Media in Promoting Peace,” Justice Baffoe-Bonnie described the gathering as a solemn opportunity to reflect on the direction of the nation and the urgent need to defend truth, accountability, and environmental justice.
“Every nation that loses its sense of truth loses its future,” the Acting Chief Justice declared. “As our country confronts the twin crises of insecurity and environmental destruction, we must ask ourselves who will awaken our conscience and guard the truth that leads to peace.”
Justice Baffoe-Bonnie emphasized the central role of the media in upholding peace and truth, describing journalism as a “sacred bridge between governance and the governed, between silence and voice, between decay and renewal.”
He cautioned that corruption, insecurity, and environmental degradation are interconnected threats that must be tackled collectively.
“Peace, security, and the fight against galamsey are not separate stories but threads of one national fabric. When one is torn, the others unravel,” he noted.
According to him, illegal mining is not merely an environmental concern but “a moral struggle for the soul of the nation” – one that pits short-term personal gain against long-term national survival.
Drawing vivid imagery from the country’s deteriorating river bodies and farmlands, Justice Baffoe-Bonnie lamented the devastating effects of illegal mining on Ghana’s natural heritage and the well-being of rural communities.
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“Our rivers no longer smile; their waters have turned the color of sorrow,” he said. “The children who once fetched water from them now dig into their banks for specks of gold.
Schools stand half-empty, and the laughter of learning has been replaced by the clinking of metal against stone.”
He called for stronger national resolve and cooperation across all sectors; including the judiciary, government, civil society, and the media; to restore environmental integrity and protect the lives of future generations.
“The fight against galamsey is not simply an environmental campaign. It is a struggle for our very survival,” the Acting Chief Justice stated.
Justice Baffoe-Bonnie urged the media to continue exposing corruption, illegal mining, and other threats to national stability without fear or bias, reminding journalists that truth-telling remains the foundation of peace and justice.
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“If silence takes the place of truth, then we lose not only our forests and rivers but our dignity as a people,” he cautioned.
He concluded by calling on all Ghanaians to act decisively to safeguard the nation’s future, echoing the words of Dr. Kwame Nkrumah: “To face forward is to confront the truth – and to act upon it.”
The 29th Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) Awards, held under the patronage of Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, celebrated outstanding Ghanaian journalists and media institutions committed to promoting peace, national development, and environmental stewardship.
Sources: Starrfm.com.gh/Isaac Justice Bediako
