Violent Attack on Journalists in Ghana Sparks International Condemnation
A disturbing incident of violence against journalists has shaken the media community in Ghana, sparking widespread condemnation from international organizations and human rights groups. Erastus Asare Donkor, Majid Alidu, and Nicholas Suantah, three journalists from Multimedia Group Limited, were brutally assaulted by a group of armed men while investigating a mining site in the southern region of the country.
According to eyewitness accounts, the journalists were approached by a group of over ten men armed with shotguns, who claimed to work for the mining company Edelmetallum Mining Resources Limited. The men forced the journalists into their vehicle and escorted them to a remote forest area, where they were subjected to a vicious beating. "They started to beat us up. It was repeated hot slaps and punches," recounted Erastus Asare Donkor, a renowned journalist awarded for his articles on illegal mining and environmental degradation.
The journalists were investigating the farmland destruction and water pollution caused by the mining company in Asumenya, a locality in the Ashanti region. Their equipment, including their tablet and SD cards, were seized, and the assailants took photos of the journalists, threatening to "deal with them" before leaving them injured in the forest.
Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has strongly condemned the attack, calling on the authorities to bring the perpetrators to justice. "We condemn, in the strongest possible terms, this violent attack on journalists who were simply doing their jobs," said Sadibou Marong, Director of RSF’s Sub-Saharan Africa Desk. "Any social issue, including the environment, must be able to be addressed without fear of reprisals."
The incident has also raised concerns about the increasing impunity that threatens field reporting of environmental issues in Ghana. Kofi Adu Domfeh, Erastus Asare Donkor’s superior, noted that "there is increasing impunity which threatens field reporting of environmental issues in Ghana."
The police in Manso Adubia, a town in Ashanti, have filed a complaint, but no arrests have been made yet. The mining company, Edelmetallum Mining Resources Limited, has not responded to RSF’s requests for comments.
Ghana ranks 50th out of 180 countries in RSF’s 2024 World Press Freedom Index, highlighting the need for greater protection and support for journalists in the country. The international community must come together to condemn such attacks and ensure that journalists can do their jobs without fear of reprisals.