PAJAG media coalition launches to strengthen fight against galamsey

A new coalition of journalists, the Patriotic Journalists Against Galamsey (PAJAG), has been formally unveiled in Accra, with its leadership pledging to use investigative journalism as a critical tool in the national fight against illegal mining, also known as (Galamsey).

Speaking at a press conference, Executive Director Nana Otu Darko said PAJAG brings together reporters, broadcasters, bloggers, and vloggers committed to documenting the environmental impact of galamsey and promoting accountability within state institutions. He emphasised that the group is non-partisan and driven by the urgent need to protect Ghana’s natural resources.

“Our vision is a Ghana where every river runs clear and no community is poisoned by galamsey,” he said. “We are journalists who have chosen patriotism as our beat and the environment as our lifelong assignment.”

PAJAG acknowledged several recent government interventions aimed at curbing illegal mining. These include the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS), the Responsible Cooperative Mining and Skills Development Programme (RCOMSDEP), and the Blue Water Guard community protection initiative. The coalition also highlighted the contribution of Hon. Amarh Kofi Boah in repealing L.I. 2462, legislation that previously permitted mining in forest reserves.

The coalition welcomed the government’s allocation of GHS 150 million to NAIMOS in the 2026 budget, describing it as “the strongest signal in years that galamsey is finally being treated as a national emergency.”

Mr. Darko said PAJAG intends to work closely with relevant agencies to improve public transparency on illegal mining. “PAJAG pledges its full partnership. Our pens, microphones, cameras, and platforms will serve as additional eyes and ears for NAIMOS and the Ministry. Where there is concealment, we will expose it. Where there is courage, we will amplify it,” he said.

The group also announced that its official public launch, which will feature its organisational structure, advisory board, and a 12-month action plan, is scheduled to take place in the coming days.

Journalists in attendance were urged to report on the destruction caused by galamsey not as a political issue but as “a survival story that demands urgency,” reinforcing PAJAG’s call for sustained media attention on environmental protection.

By: Bawa Musah

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