A member of Ghana’s opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) communications team, Yaw Opoku Mensah has accused sections of the media and civil society organisations of politicising the country’s fight against illegal mining, known locally as galamsey.
He said it was “astonishing” that some media outlets previously portrayed illegal mining as being solely linked to the administration of former President Nana Akufo-Addo but were now less vocal on the issue.
Speaking on The Forum on Asaase Radio on Saturday (25 April), Opoku Mensah questioned whether media houses and civil society groups had been influenced by political considerations in their coverage of the environmental crisis.
“It was quite astonishing to see people within the media space, playing a certain game and giving a certain narration that illegal mining was solely attributed to Nana Akufo-Addo’s regime,” Opoku Mensah told the host Wilberforce Asare.
Opoku Mensah suggested that the intensity of media coverage on polluted water bodies and environmental destruction had reduced in recent times, raising concerns about consistency and neutrality.
“We don’t see the polluted waters on your tables indicating to the world about the devastation,” he said.
He also questioned whether internal coordination among journalists and civil society actors may be influencing public messaging on the issue.
“Were the media playing politics as well?” he asked, suggesting that some actors may have been used as “political tools” in shaping narratives against previous governments.
Opoku Mensah argued that both the media and civil society organisations carry significant influence in shaping public discourse and should maintain neutrality in national debates.
He further criticised what he described as silence from previously vocal advocacy groups, suggesting it undermines efforts to sustain pressure on authorities.
“If we are serious, the voice of the media and the CSOs carry weight,” he said, adding that citizens rely on consistent and principled advocacy.
Illegal mining remains a major environmental challenge in Ghana, with concerns over water pollution, deforestation and regulatory enforcement continuing to dominate public debate across successive governments.
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