Investigative journalist with Luv FM, a subsidiary of Multimedia in the Ashanti regional capital, Kumasi, Erastus Asare Donkor, has sharply criticized the outgoing president over his handling of the fight against illegal mining, popularly known as “Galamsey.”
In an open letter, Mr Donkor refuted claims made by president, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo –Addo, that his government’s efforts to combat galamsey, contributed to the party’s electoral loss.
The journalist, known for his exposés on environmental destruction caused by illegal mining, alleged that while the government initially showed commitment to tackling the menace, it ultimately faltered.
He accused some of the president’s appointees and close associates of engaging in or facilitating illegal mining activities, thereby undermining the administration’s credibility.
Allegations of Complicity
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Mr Donkor highlighted specific instances of alleged complicity:
- Relative’s Involvement: He claimed one of the president’s close relatives served as a legal representative for a company accused of destroying the Apamprama and Upper Wassa forest reserves.
- Party Executives in Forests: Some party executives were accused of engaging in illegal mining activities in key forest reserves, including Ankwaso, Saryiano, and Tano Anwia.
- Ashanti Regional Chairman’s Role: Mr Donkor accused the Ashanti Regional Chairman of illegally entering the Tano Nimri Forest reserve and polluting the Tano River.
Public Discontent
Mr Donkor, argued that the president’s fight against galamsey was selective, targeting minor offenders, while protecting powerful individuals linked to his party. “Many voted against you not because you fought galamsey, but because of the lack of it,” he wrote.
He added that the administration prioritized electoral victories over environmental sustainability, which led to widespread pollution of rivers like the Birim, Ankobra, Pra, and Tano.
A Call for Accountability
Reflecting on his own experience, the Journalist, expressed gratitude for the state award conferred on him by the outgoing president.
However, he noted the irony of being honored by the same administration that failed to act decisively against illegal mining. He urged the president to take responsibility for the ecological damage caused during his tenure and to instruct his aides to return items allegedly seized from him.
A Final Plea
As the outgoing president retires to his hometown of Kyebi, Mr Donkor, reminded him of the devastation wrought by galamsey, particularly the polluted rivers flowing through the region.
He urged the president to reflect on his tenure and acknowledge the failures in combating illegal mining.
“Ghanaians did not vote your party out because you were fighting Galamsey, but because of the lack of it,” Mr Donkor concluded.
published below is what he posted on his Facebook wall
Erastus Asare Donkor writes
Mr. Outgoing President:
Your assertion that you lost this election because you were fighting Galamsey cannot be true. Infact your party made a similar assertion, attributing some depreciation of votes to your fight against Galamsey. You started well and for a moment some of us thought we were winning the fight against Galamsey.
Then you slacked!! Many of your appointees took advantage of the power you willed them to engage deeply in illegal mining activities. Infact one of your close relatives was a lawyer to, and defended a company linked to the destruction of some major forests in Ghana, including the Apamprama forest reserve. This company metamorphosed from another entity which decimated the Upper Wassa forest reserve. Perhaps the power he drew from you as your relative aided this company to draw a large military force from the Ghana Armed Forces which protected it while it illegally destroyed Ghana’s forests.
Some known executives from your party took advantage of your laxity to pitch camp in forests like, Ankwaso, Saryiano, Amansie, Tano Anwia, and Tano Nimri and others and did permanent damage to these ecosystems.
Your close buddy, the Ashanti Regional Chairman, illegally entered the Tano Nimri Forest reserve and destroyed portions of it. Even after I exposed him and gave evidence of his constant pollution of the Tano River, you were heard in one of your speeches defending him.
Infact, despite these infractions, your party still won many seats and even the presidential race in many Galamsey constituencies. It’s not true many voted against you because you were fighting Galamsey. But I’ve heard some say they were angry because when you said you were fighting Galamsey, you only fought the little fishes and allowed “your” favorites to rule the field.
I’ve gotten the flack for receiving a state award delivered by you. While’s I understand the anger of the masses, I think their anger stems from your inability to call out your own in this fight. They are upset because they expected you to stand your ground and fight those who pollute our rivers and your people who pillage our forests. But sadly you didn’t. In the days leading to the 2024 elections, your government chose the people’s votes ahead of their lives which hinged directly on the pollution of rivers which has largely affected their health and agriculture, the main stay of the people.
Today as you step down from the clutches of power I’m sure you will see clearly now from your Kyebi residence, the color of the Birim, the Ankobra, the Pra, the Tano which your friend Chairman Wontumi helped pollute and is still polluting. You could have said SORRY but to continue the self denial and the skewing of facts in your state of the nation address in the Galamsey fight is unfortunate.
I’m glad that finally you endorsed my work with an admission that my videos were not fake and my work was not substandard as some of your appointees and party people sought to proclaim.
I remember what you told me whilst decorating me with the honors; an admission that I have served my nation well. You added a statement you did not complete but I know deep down you know that Ghanaians did not vote your party out because you were fighting Galamsey but the lack of it.
Please tell, the aide to the second …. Whose boys seized my items to return them.
I wish you well.
