GJA calls for prosecution of attackers in brutal assault on journalist Erastus Asare Donkor and colleagues
The Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) has condemned the violent assault on Erastus Asare Donkor, an award-winning journalist with the Multimedia Group, and his team while on assignment. In a strongly worded statement released on Wednesday, the GJA urged the police to expedite the arrest and prosecution of all individuals involved in the attack.
The Association also called for the immediate suspension of Edelmetallum Mining Resources Limited’s operating license, citing the environmental destruction caused by the company. The GJA has appealed to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Minerals Commission (MC) to investigate the mining firm’s operations.
Background of the Assault
The incident occurred on Sunday in Asumenya, Amansie South District of the Ashanti Region, where the Multimedia team, led by Erastus Asare Donkor, was investigating the environmental damage caused by illegal mining. Their reporting focused on the destruction of farmlands and water bodies linked to Edelmetallum Mining Resources Limited, a company connected to shareholder Adelaide Tettey, according to the GJA.
While filming, the crew was accosted by armed men allegedly protecting the mining site. Brandishing pump-action guns, the attackers seized the journalists and their equipment, transported them to a remote forest, and subjected them to a brutal beating. The team suffered severe injuries before being abandoned.
After the attack, the journalists filed a report with the Manso Edubia Police Station and received medical treatment at Agroyesum Hospital. The assailants reportedly claimed to be acting on orders from the owner of Edelmetallum Mining Resources Limited.
Police Response and Investigations
Following the report, police arrested three suspects linked to the attack. The GJA praised the swift action by law enforcement and commended the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) for his involvement in the case. However, the Association stressed that the investigation should not stop with these arrests, calling for the prosecution of all those responsible for the brutal assault.
