This Saturday’s edition of JoyNews’ Newsfile will have an in-depth discussion on two significant national concerns.

First on the agenda is Ghana’s ongoing struggle against illegal small-scale mining, commonly known as galamsey.

Despite various interventions by successive governments, the fight against galamsey seems to be stalling, raising fears about the mobilisation of efforts to address the existential threat to the country’s environment and future generations.

Civil Society Groups, Organized Labour, and others have called for a total ban on illegal mining and the declaration of a state of emergency on water bodies.

However, Lands Minister Samuel A. Jinapor has reiterated the government’s commitment to promoting sustainable and legal mining in the country.

He noted that stricter guidelines have been issued to all Regional Ministers and their security councils to bolster the fight against illegal mining.

Are these initiatives enough to nib the canker in the bud? The programme will delve into what has gone wrong and examine potential solutions to reinvigorate efforts against this national challenge.

The second topic addresses the credibility of Ghana’s voters’ register, a contentious issue that has led the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to announce a protest for September 17.

The NDC is demanding a forensic audit of the register, arguing that the current system could undermine the integrity of future elections.

However, the Electoral Commission has declined the request for an independent audit, sparking a national debate on electoral transparency and fairness.

The Newsfile panel will analyse whether the NDC’s concerns are valid, if a forensic audit is necessary to maintain voter confidence, or whether this is a political strategy.

Join the discussion as these pressing issues and their implications for Ghana’s democracy are thoroughly examined.