Declare Your Alliance With Asanko Mines, Others — Tontokrom Chiefs tell JoyNews journalist

Traditional leaders and residents of Manso Tontokrom in the Amansie South District of the Ashanti Region have challenged JoyNews environmental journalist, Erastus Asare Donkor, to openly declare his relationship with Asanko Mines, accusing him of using his reportage to advance the interests of the foreign mining company at the expense of the local community.

The chiefs and residents accused the journalist of consistently portraying Tontokrom as a haven of illegal mining and lawlessness through what they described as unfair, unverified and damaging reports.

They questioned his motives, alleging that his publications appeared to target indigenous miners and community members while advancing the interests of foreign mining companies operating in the area.

Led by Nana Kwaku Gyamfi II, the angry residents accused the journalist of making many unsubstantiated claims that residents had dug dangerous mining pits in which people had died, challenging him to produce evidence to substantiate the allegations.

They argued, Mr. Asare Donkor failed to exercise due diligence by verifying the claims and giving the community an opportunity to respond before publishing them.

“If the media continues to do this, it is not fair. JoyNews, if you hear anything, you must take your time and verify it. You claim that we dug pits and people died in those pits. Where?” the elders questioned.

The chiefs also alleged that the journalist’s reportage was influenced by personal disagreements, claiming that he had previously approached them but became hostile after they allegedly declined to meet his demands.

They have consequently given the journalist an ultimatum to visit the community and render an unqualified apology to the traditional leadership and residents, threatening to invoke traditional curses against him if he fails to comply.

“If by close of today Erastus Asare Donkor fails to come to the community and render an apology to the whole community, we will curse him,” they declared.

The elders expressed confidence in their traditional deities and spiritual forces, including a river they believe protects the community, to intervene in the matter.

“We live here with the gods, our river is here, and they are protecting us. Since we have not done anything wrong, but he is destroying us, the gods will judge him,” they added.

Facebook Publications

The confrontation follows a series of Facebook publications by Mr Asare Donkor in which he accused Manso Tontokrom of being a stronghold of illegal mining allegedly protected by powerful political interests.

“There is a lot of political backing for the deep-seated galamsey in Manso Tontokrom. That’s why miners will dare soldiers. NAIMOS indeed restrained itself. That jinx must be broken,” he wrote.

In another post, he described Tontokrom as a community where illegal mining activities were carried out openly, allegedly without effective enforcement of environmental laws.

“Manso Tontokrom is the only town where Galamsey has taken seed. Even soldiers are afraid of enforcing environmental laws in that town. Galamsey is done glaringly,” he stated.

The traditional leaders, however, insist that their objection is not intended to shield illegal mining operators or prevent journalists from reporting on environmental violations but to demand fairness, accuracy and the right of the community to respond to allegations.

Residents Demand Evidence

Meanwhile, some miners and residents have also challenged Mr Asare Donkor to substantiate allegations that local leaders and miners have been paying security personnel to prevent them from clamping down on illegal mining in the area.

They questioned why the journalist had not publicly presented evidence of the alleged financial inducements if he was convinced that military personnel had been compromised to protect illegal miners.

“Our issue with that boy, Erastus Asare Donkor, is that he is talking out of hunger. That is why he is doing and saying what he is saying and doing,” one resident alleged.

The residents further accused him of promoting narratives they believe favour foreign mining interests at the expense of indigenous communities, particularly regarding access to Ghana’s mineral resources.

They questioned why local people should be denied the opportunity to benefit from the country’s mineral wealth while foreign companies were allegedly allowed to undertake mining operations.

Some residents also challenged the journalist to publicly declare whether he had ever received money from illegal miners, insisting that allegations of financial inducements should be backed by evidence.