Ashanti Regional Minister joins media in galamsey fight

The Ashanti Regional Minister Hon Simon Osei-Mensah will be joining the media under the auspices of The Press Foundation, TPF to wage a relentless war against illegal mining in the country.

TPF has is holding a public forum dubbed “#UnitedAgainstGalamsey” which seeks to whip up public support aimed at dealing with the havoc illegal mining has wreaked on the environment, destroying major water bodies and forest reserves.

Hon Simon Osei-Mensah reiterated his commitment to fight illegal mining within his jurisdiction observing that it is a shared responsibility among the various stakeholders and should be seen as an issue of national concern.

He has expressed therefore support towards the fight against the galamsey menace in the country and to this end, pledged his preparedness to grace the impending public forum geared at brainstorming pragmatic measures aimed at fixing the deadly practice of galamsey.

The Minister will join other prominent persons on Friday, 26th May, 2017 at the SSNIT Conference Hall at 9am for The Press Foundation, TPF, organized public event.

Under the theme; #UnitedAgainstGalamsey, the public forum is expected to attract hundreds participants made up of mainly stakeholders in this fight.

Already, ace Ghanaian international investigative journalist, Anas Aremeyaw Anas has reaffirmed his avowed commitment to fighting against the galamsey.

Sometime in 2012, Anas went undercover to uncover the wicked faces behind this deadly practice in a documentary, “Africa investigates; illegal mining in Ghana” , which was aired by international media including Aljazeera and also repeatedly aired on many television stations in Ghana.

Ahead of the release of the investigative piece, the ace investigator in September, 2012 put on his faceboook wall, “Africa Investigate – Illegal Mining (Ghana). The British’s Named My Country Gold Coast Not without Reason with Gold Prices surging One World Market.

Ghana Is Experiencing A New Gold Rush and That Has Led to More Illegal Mining with Criminals Taking Control.

Criminals with No Concern for the Environment, The protection of Children or The Safety of Miners. I went undercover to find those who are behind this business and how they are getting away with it. Will be giving you the links in a jiffy so u can watch them on Youtube. Thereafter the video was aired and made some appreciable impact.

But the Press Foundation, TPF believes the nation in its bid to keep the fight against galamsey must look back at that investigative piece which has since been on Youtibe for public viewing.

So as part of plans to make a mark with the #UnitedAgainstGalasemy campaign, Anas has given his blessing to the public forum promising to contribute his quota towards the success of the campaign.

He told, the Executive Director of the Press Foundation, Mr. Listowell Yesu Bukarson “this is a national issue and everyone is welcome” assuring his commitment to the fight.

Adding, “Yes please” when Mr. Bukarson asked for his permission to show his documentary at the #UnitedAgainstGalamsey” campaign public forum on Friday. So during the event that must-watch investigative work by Anas will been shown to participants.

Other speakers aside the Ashanti Regional Minister include; the CEO of the Ghana Minerals Commission, Dr. Toni Aubynn, Managing Director of the Graphic Communications Group Ltd, Ken Ashiegbey, 2016 Independent Presidential Candidate, Jacob Osei Yeboah and the Operations Director of the Ghana National Association of Small Scale Miners, Mr. Emmanuel Yenrenkyi Antwi.