Joy News’ Erastus Asare Donkor Attacked By Heavily Armed Men At Galamsey Site In Ashanti Region
Three staff members of the Multimedia Group Limited, including award-winning journalist Erastus Asare Donkor, have been attacked by heavily armed men at a mining site near Asumenya, close to Manso Nkran in the Ashanti Region. The attackers, claiming to be working for Edelmetallum Resources Limited, forcibly abducted the journalists, subjected them to severe beatings, and later abandoned them.
The assault, carried out by over ten heavily built men armed with pump-action guns, occurred amidst heightened tensions over illegal mining activities in the area. The journalists were reportedly covering the destruction of portions of the newly restored Asenanyo Forest Reserve and pollution of streams flowing into the Ankobra River. These environmental concerns have been exacerbated by illegal mining operations, leading to further degradation of the region.
Following the attack, an official complaint was lodged at the Manso Edubia police station, and investigations are expected to commence to bring the perpetrators to justice.
Erastus Asare Donkor, known for his relentless activism against illegal mining and environmental degradation, has received multiple accolades for his work in exposing the harmful impacts of “galamsey” (illegal mining) in Ghana. His work has been instrumental in raising awareness of the severe environmental damage caused by these activities.
The government, in its renewed efforts to combat illegal mining, has reactivated the ‘Operation Halt’ task force to protect the nation’s water bodies. Over 100 soldiers have been deployed to destroy mining equipment and arrest illegal miners. However, critics have questioned whether this approach will provide a long-term solution to the illegal mining crisis, as similar methods have been employed in the past with limited success.
The attack on the journalists underscores the ongoing challenges in addressing illegal mining and environmental degradation, particularly as those involved in the illegal activities become increasingly aggressive in protecting their interests.