Galamsey: Arrest suspects who attacked JoyNews crew at Manso Nkran – Ashigbey to IGP
The proprietors of a mining site in Asumenya, close to Manso Nkran, are the subject of a request from the Media Coalition Against Illegal Mining for their kidnapping, assault, and seizure of three Multimedia Group employees’ equipment. The IGP is being urged to make an arrest and bring charges against the owners.
In the Ashanti Region, three employees, among them Erastus Asare Donkor, were ambushed by armed individuals posing as employees of Edelmetallum Resources Limited.
The team was kidnapped by more than ten armed guys, who then transported them to an unknown location, brutally beaten them, and left them there.
The incident happened while the crew was photographing the devastation brought on by illicit mining.
Another wave of devastation has hit recently recovered areas of the Asenanyo Forest Reserve, and streams that feed into the Ankobra River are also contaminated.
The Manso Edubia police station has received an official complaint calling on the authorities to look into and take appropriate action.
The award-winning journalist Erastus Asare Donkor is well-known for his advocacy against illegal mining and environmental destruction.
He stated to JoyNews that no one has been arrested by the police yet.
Dr. Kenneth Ashigbey, the convener of the Media Coalition against Illegal Mining, is requesting that the IGP take action on the issue.
“If the judiciary had been attacked if the Executive had been attacked, if the Legislature or the Judiciary had been attacked is this the attitude the police are going to show?” asked him.
Going above and beyond, private attorney Martin Kpebu is calling for the owners of the mining site to be sent into custody for violating the Vigilantism and Related Offences law.
“The first people to be brought in should be the owners. Given the circumstances of this case, they must be taken in since they employed other people to carry out a crime on their behalf. The Vigilantism and Related Offences Act appears to be relevant in my opinion.”
The attorney clarified that “the police can’t be heard to say they are now looking for the thugs, themselves, no, invite the owners.”
“This is a clear-cut case. You have to tell the owners to respond to themselves. It’s not just about the criminals.
