Victory Roars: JoyNews' #NoToGalamsey Campaign Crowned CIMG New Media King!

The #NoToGalamsey campaign by JoyNews has been honored as the New Media Campaign of the Year for 2025 at the 37th Annual National Marketing Performance Awards, an event meticulously organized by the Chartered Institute of Marketing, Ghana (CIMG). The prestigious award ceremony took place at the distinguished Labadi Beach Hotel in Accra on Saturday, October 17, 2026. This significant recognition celebrates the campaign's innovative and effective utilization of digital platforms, which successfully broadened the dissemination and impact of its critical reporting on illegal mining, locally known as "galamsey," and its devastating effects on Ghana's vital water bodies and vulnerable communities.

In its official citation, the CIMG lauded the #NoToGalamsey campaign for its adeptness in leveraging digital conversations to significantly expand public engagement with the multifaceted issue of illegal mining. Specifically, the citation highlighted how JoyNews deployed various digital tools, including "social audio, podcasts, and cross-platform storytelling," providing diverse avenues for audiences to interact with the in-depth reporting concerning illegal mining and its profound consequences on water resources and local communities. The institute commended the campaign's foundational strength, noting its success in employing journalism to elevate an environmental crisis into a prominent and accessible part of everyday public discourse.

The CIMG further elaborated on the campaign's comprehensive approach, which effectively delivered crucial scientific information, nuanced expert perspectives, and facilitated active citizen participation to its audiences. This was achieved through a strategic blend of digital channels, including social audio and podcasts, demonstrating a commitment to informed public dialogue. The award also acknowledged the crucial role of strategic partnerships that were instrumental in amplifying the campaign's impactful public-interest reporting. The judging panel specifically commended the campaign's rigorous scientific grounding and its collaborative spirit, engaging effectively with a wide array of stakeholders, encompassing experts, institutions, and the general citizenry.

This commendation by CIMG serves as a testament to the #NoToGalamsey campaign's ingenious deployment of multiple digital formats. These diverse platforms were key in sustaining widespread public attention on the pervasive issue of illegal mining and its severe environmental and societal repercussions across Ghana. Concluding its remarks, the CIMG praised the campaign for its remarkable influence, unequivocally describing it as a "resounding success" that left a profound impression on the evaluators. Ultimately, this solidified JoyNews’ #NoToGalamsey campaign's esteemed title as the New Media Campaign of the Year for 2025.

Beyond this significant award, the #NoToGalamsey campaign has played a pivotal role in shaping Ghana’s national discourse on illegal mining. It has consistently shone a spotlight on the detrimental effects of galamsey on the environment, the well-being of communities, and the livelihoods of countless individuals. Through the extensive reach of the Multimedia Group’s radio, television, and digital platforms, the campaign has diligently worked to raise awareness, meticulously scrutinize the responses and actions of duty-bearers, and passionately advocate for decisive action to safeguard the nation’s irreplaceable natural resources. This recent CIMG recognition further enhances the campaign’s standing as a leading public-interest media initiative, squarely focused on addressing one of Ghana’s most pressing and critical environmental challenges.