Galamsey: Chinese accusation against media unfounded – Mawugbe

The Managing Consultant of Centre for Media Analysis, Dr. Messan Mawugbe, has chastised the Chinese mission in Ghana for questioning the approach of the Ghanaian media in reporting Chinese involvement in illegal mining—otherwise known galamsey.

According to him, the claims by the Chinese mission are groundless.

The mission in a letter addressed to Ghana’s Lands and Natural Resources Minister complained of “a number of distorted or biased reports and stories on Chinese people, especially some reports and cartoons that are defaming Chinese leaders and senior officials,” with regards to the issues of galamsey.

“The Chinese side is very concerned about this unhealthy tendency. We hope that the Ghanaian government will pay due attention to this situation, take the necessary action to stop such things from happening again and guide the media to give an objective coverage on the illegal mining issue so as to create a good environment for further development of our bilateral exchanges and cooperation,” the letter added.

Reacting to the development Monday April 10, 2017, on Morning Starr, Dr. Mawugbe said the complaints of the Chinese are unfounded.

“I don’t think the media has been biased at all. The media is only mirroring what is happening. Maybe the Chinese was expecting the media to report on the issue from a particular angle. The media is doing its work and they should be allowed…we have a vibrant media in this country and it respects the right of all,” he told Morning Starr host Francis Abban.