By Over two weeks have passed since Joy News’ environmental journalist Erastus Asare Donkor and three colleagues were ambushed by armed illegal miners in the Ashanti Region while covering illegal mining activities in a protected forest reserve.
Despite Erastus promptly reporting the incident to local police, the investigation has been slow to progress.
Speaking on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show on Monday, November 4, 2024, Erastus voiced his frustration over the lack of action by the police, calling for justice for the attack on his team amid their ongoing fight against galamsey in Ghana.
“There is not much information. I have been contacting the district police commander, and he keeps telling me that they have taken the case to court and that the court is yet to give them a date for the hearing,” he said.
The attackers also seized the journalists’ equipment, including a drone, tablets, and SD cards. Despite Erastus’s repeated requests, these items have yet to be returned.
He noted that the police promised to retrieve the items, but that remains unfulfilled. “I keep asking the district commander whether he has any information on the items, and he said no; they have not brought any items to him.”
The journalist also expressed surprise that the leadership of the Ghana Police Service has remained silent on the incident.
According to Ghana’s 1992 Constitution, after an arrest, suspects are usually arraigned within 48 hours to ensure a swift hearing of the charges against them.
However, despite being granted bail, there has been no further action to pursue justice against the attackers.
