In a shocking and disturbing incident, award-winning journalist Erastus Asare Donkor and his crew from JoyNews were brutally assaulted by armed men at a mining site in Ashanti Region’s Asumenya, near Manso Nkran.
The heavily built men, claiming to work for Edelmetallum Resources Limited, attacked Donkor and his team with pump action guns, forcing them to a location where they were severely beaten and abandoned.
Background of the Incident
The Journalist has been investigating the destructive effects of galamsey, Ghana’s illegal mining activity.
His reporting has exposed the devastating impact of galamsey on Ghana’s environment, including the pollution of water bodies and the destruction of forests.
The Attack
According to eyewitnesses, over ten heavily built men armed with pump action guns ambushed Donkor and his crew.
The journalists were forcibly driven to a location where they were subjected to severe beatings.
The attackers claimed to be working for Edelmetallum Resources Limited, a mining company operating in the area.
Condemnation And Reactions
Meanwhile, the Ghana Journalists Association has strongly condemned the threats and attacks on journalists, urging law enforcement to provide maximum security for media practitioners.
Eco-Conscious Citizens, an environmental group, has also called for solidarity with journalists risking their lives to expose Galamsey’s devastating impact on Ghana’s environment.
Government’s Response
Recently, the Akufo-Addo-led government has re-launched “Operation Halt” to combat galamsey, deploying over 100 soldiers to protect water bodies and destroy mining equipment.
However, observers question the effectiveness of this approach in addressing the root causes of the problem.
Source:dailyguidenetwork.com