Journalist Erastus Asare Donkor Accuses Government of Politicizing Galamsey Crisis

Award winning journalist and anti-illegal mining (galamsey) advocate, Erastus Asare Donkor, has raised concerns over what he describes as the government’s deliberate attempt to shift public focus from the devastating effects of galamsey to a political debate. In a Facebook post on Friday, Asare Donkor accused the government of spinning the narrative to mislead sections of the Ghanaian public by framing the issue as a contest between the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC).

Donkor’s post highlighted three main strategies that the government has allegedly employed to distort the conversation around galamsey: politicizing the issue, framing water pollution concerns as an NDC agenda, and misrepresenting the timeline of anti-galamsey activism.

Government Spin on Galamsey

According to Donkor, the government has intentionally turned the discourse on illegal mining into an NPP-NDC debate, diverting attention from the severe environmental and health consequences of the activity. He noted that “feeble-minded” sections of the public have fallen for this tactic, focusing on political partisanship rather than addressing the destruction of forests and water bodies.

“The government has created a political spin to shift the focus from the devastating effects of galamsey to an NPP/NDC debate,” Donkor wrote, adding that this approach only serves to downplay the critical issue at hand.

Water Pollution and NDC Accusations

The journalist further argued that the government has attempted to frame calls for a state of emergency on water bodies as part of an NDC political agenda. He challenged this narrative, asking, “Do you need the NDC to tell you that polluted rivers and streams affect your health, agriculture, and your very existence as a human?”

Donkor expressed frustration that the government’s framing has resonated with some citizens, turning the issue of water pollution, a matter of public health and safety, into a political argument.

Documentaries and Lack of Action

Donkor also recounted his own efforts to expose the galamsey menace through several documentaries. His investigative work, which includes documentaries such as “Destruction for Gold” (2022), “Poisoned for Gold” (2023), and “Forests Under Siege” (2024), shed light on the environmental destruction and public health dangers posed by illegal mining. However, despite the evidence, he noted that the government has consistently failed to take meaningful action.

“In 2023, this government stopped all interventions aimed at fighting galamsey,” Donkor stated, adding that even after the collective hammering by journalists like himself, the government’s response has been lackluster.

Focus on Solutions, Not Politics

Though Donkor criticized the NDC for engaging in what he called “needless, stupid politics,” he emphasized that the real issue lies in the government’s failure to act decisively. He challenged the government to put the welfare of the people above political interests, stating, “If this government is committed to fighting this nonsense, why will they put votes ahead of the lives of Ghanaians?”

Erastus Asare Donkor’s post, delivered a sharp rebuke: “Only fools will play with the effects of a canker that seeks to derail our progress as a country.”

As public frustration grows over the galamsey crisis, Asare Donkor’s comments reflect a broader concern that political agendas are overshadowing the urgent need to address the environmental destruction caused by illegal mining.

By Jeorge Wilson Kingson || ghananewsonline.com.gh