Renowned Kumawood film producer, Paul Gee has urged government to demonstrate its readiness to fight galamsey by giving out GH₵2b ($121,645,600) to the creative industry for a effective fight against the menace.
According to him, one of the most effective approaches to combat illegal mining widely known as galamsey is through movies and music.
The amount, he said will fully support the production of anti-galamsey films, documentaries, music, and other creative works that would bring to the fore the devastating effects of illegal mining.
In an interview with Graphic Showbiz on Monday, November 4, 2024, Paul Gee noted that creatives could effectively provide a solution to the menace if this suggestion is taken into consideration by government.
“I’ve always said that creatives have the power to shape minds and inspire action. I, therefore, suggested that the government allocates GH₵2 billion to us to produce anti-galamsey content, create jobs and educate affected communities.
“For instance, if you have an actress such as Nana Ama Mcbrown and a movie producer like myself, working on a documentary on galamsey, it will have greater impact,” he said.
Despite, the many protests against galamsey in the country and the petitions for President Akufo-Addo to take action, galamsey is still happening in the country.
Paul Gee believes that the creative sector has the potential to drive social change against galamsey if it is given some level of attention.
“This is not the first time creatives have been used to conscientise the populace. This creative approach can educate and empower those involved, encouraging them to abandon harmful practices.
“By leveraging Ghana’s film industry, we can combat galamsey. Imagine the over 400 Ghanaian film producers using galamsey sites as movie locations, raising awareness about the devastating effects of illegal mining. This is not just about entertainment; it’s about using our craft to drive social change.
President Akufo-Addo in response to the calls to take action against galamsey deployed military soldiers to galamsey sites to stop the activities.
However, Paul Gee described the deployment of military force to combat galamsey as a costly endeavour draining the state’s resources.
He’s pushing for a financial support for creatives to embark on a huge campaign to stop the menace.
“Previous measures have failed. This galamsey fight isn’t about the use of brute force. The truth is that most of these galamseyers are unemployed so if we stop them from doing galamsey, they will resort to armed robbery and other vices.
“So we need to create jobs for them and the question is: ‘How are we going to do that?’ This is why I’m proposing that the government support us financially. Let’s use musicians, actors and film producers to produce documentaries and songs highlighting Galamsey’s devastating effects.
With over two decades in the creative arts industry, Paul Adjei has made his mark as a music and movie producer, working with top artistes such as Ernest Opoku, Ohene Ba E.K and Aseibu Amanfi.
He has produced movies, including Ama Ghana, Okomfo Anokye and Mallam Issah, making him a significant figure in both Ghanaian music and film.
Source:
3news.com
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