The Media Coalition Against Galamsey (Illegal Mining) is urging the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to arrest and prosecute the owners of a mining site at Asumenya, near Manso Nkran, for allegedly kidnapping, assaulting, and confiscating the equipment of three employees from The Multimedia Group.
Similarly, private legal practitioner Martin Kpebu expressed concern over the attack on the team, which included journalist Erastus Asare Donkor, by armed men allegedly working on behalf of Edelmetallum Resources Limited, a mining company in the Ashanti Region.
Dr. Kenneth Ashigbey of the Media Coalition Against Galamsey and Mr. Kpebu both condemned the incident during their contribution to the Super Morning Show on Joynews, monitored by the Ghanaian Times, in response to the attack that occurred last week.
Dr. Ashigbey emphasized that the IGP must act swiftly to demonstrate the seriousness with which the police handle attacks on journalists, particularly given Mr. Asare-Donkor’s prominent role in the fight against illegal mining. He questioned whether the police would show a similar lack of urgency if the judiciary, executive, or legislature had been attacked.
He added that the coalition might pursue legal action against the inaction to ensure the perpetrators are held accountable.
Mr. Kpebu noted that the act was driven by impunity, explaining that similar offenses in the past went unpunished, encouraging a recurrence.
He referenced the case of Bernard Antwi Boasiako, also known as Chairman Wontumi, who was accused of illegal mining in the Tano Forest two years ago with photographic evidence, but the IGP, Dr. George Akuffo Dampare, did not take action.
According to Mr. Kpebu, the failure to prosecute Chairman Wontumi signaled impunity, emboldening other politically connected individuals to avoid accountability.
He argued that the owners of the mining site should be the first to be arrested, as they allegedly hired the thugs to carry out the crime on their behalf.
“They hired people to commit a crime, so they must be held responsible,” he said, suggesting that the Vigilantism and Related Offenses Act could apply to the case.
Mr. Kpebu further criticized the perpetrators’ refusal to respond to the police’s invitation, highlighting it as another sign of the authorities’ failure to act on previous incidents.
Three employees from The Multimedia Group, including award-winning journalist Mr. Erastus Asare Donkor, were attacked by at least ten heavily armed men claiming to work for Edelmetallum Resources Limited.
The men abducted the team, took them to an undisclosed location, severely beat them, and later abandoned them.
The team had been documenting the destruction caused by illegal mining when they were attacked.
Portions of the recently restored Asenanyo Forest Reserve have suffered further destruction, and streams flowing into the Ankobra River have been polluted.
An official complaint has been filed at the Manso Edubia Police Station for investigation.
