CNN’s Larry Madowo is set to release a compelling report on illegal small-scale gold mining, or “galamsey,” in Ghana, capturing the devastating impact it has on communities and the environment.
While journeying to a galamsey site in the Western Region, Madowo and his team faced a daunting challenge: an unmotorable, waterlogged road. One crew member, shaken by the conditions, had to disembark from their tricycle, which was eventually able to navigate through the flooded path.
Reflecting on this experience, Madowo posted on X, “We went to rural Ghana to report on galamsey – illegal small-scale gold mining. When the full report airs on CNN, you’ll know how hectic it was to get there.”
We went to rural Ghana to report on galamsey – illegal small scale gold mining.
When the full report airs on CNN, you’ll know how hectic it was to get there pic.twitter.com/8jFprwcqqp
— Larry Madowo (@LarryMadowo) November 12, 2024
Madowo’s upcoming feature is set against a backdrop of public frustration over the Ghanaian government’s inability to tackle the galamsey crisis. Despite initial pledges by President Nana Akufo-Addo to curb illegal mining through initiatives such as Operation Halt and restrictions on mining in sensitive areas, galamsey continues to ravage rivers and forests. The Ghana Water Company Limited has warned that water shortages may worsen as major rivers like the Pra and Oti become increasingly polluted by mining activities.
Galamsey-related tensions have recently led to public protests, with citizens demanding that the government take firm action, including a temporary halt to all small-scale mining to allow for environmental recovery. The government, however, has resisted these calls due to the critical foreign exchange earnings that gold mining brings to the economy.
The best spicies in Ghana has also join the Galamsey campaign. #SankofajoinsStopGalamseyNow
— Bla Akwasi† (@yeboah__) November 12, 2024
Amidst these protests, which led to the arrest of 39 demonstrators, Madowo reported that peaceful anti-galamsey protestors were being detained, posting, “I’ll be watching Ghana’s president speak in New York this morning as police in Accra continue to detain peaceful protesters against illegal mining.”
This portrayal drew criticism from Ghana’s Minister of Information, Fatimatu Abubakar, who argued that Madowo’s reporting was one-sided and did not fully represent the situation. She noted that while Ghana supports the right to peaceful protest, some protesters had engaged in vandalism and clashes with the police.
Abubakar urged Madowo to provide balanced reporting, stating on X, “Dear @LarryMadowo, Please do well to check and report on both sides of a story when making publications that impact a country’s image… acts of vandalism, attacks on police, and disruptions to public order will always be contained by the Police in any jurisdiction.”
Dear @LarryMadowo
Please do well to check and report on both sides of a story when making publications that impact a country’s image.
Ghana has always supported citizens’ right to demonstrate peacefully. However, acts of vandalism, attacks on police and disruptions to public… https://t.co/PqHwQWfomS
— Fatimatu Abubakar (@Fatimatu_A) September 26, 2024
