The President of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), Albert Kwabena Dwumfour, has commended President John Dramani Mahama for holding a media engagement but expressed disappointment over his comments on illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey.

Dwumfour, who spoke on Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsem on Friday, September 12, 2025, rated the President’s performance at the media engagement 80 per cent, describing it as commendable, particularly as it came at a time when the nation is still mourning the tragic helicopter crash of August 6, 2025.

“Not all presidents do media engagements when they come to power, but he promised and delivered. Even the questions he tried to avoid, he later came back to respond to them,” he stated.

However, he noted that the President’s remarks on galamsey were unsatisfactory.

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He questioned the government’s commitment to tackling the menace, recalling Mahama’s earlier promises to address the issue.

“If we don’t do something about galamsey, it will swallow us. He promised to fix galamsey when he came to power, so what has changed? Is it because their own people are involved?” he asked.

Dwumfour stressed that the fight against illegal mining must be intensified and pursued in memory of those who lost their lives in the helicopter crash.

“I think that after the helicopter crash, the President should have used this engagement to set a different tone in the fight. We expected him to give hope to the people. Leaders should demonstrate their commitment to combating this menace. If we don’t stop galamsey, galamsey will stop us,” he cautioned.

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MRA/VPO

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