ASHANTI GJA UPDATE ON ACCIDENT VICTIMS: Media Safety and Security Alert
The Ashanti regional branch of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) wishes to update our members and the general public on the condition of colleagues who were involved in the recent accident while covering an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) assignment on illegal mining activities on Thursday 6th November, 2025 at Afari near Nkawie.
We are pleased to report that all but ONE of our colleagues, have been discharged and are recovering steadily.
Ibrahim Abubakar (TV3/Akoma FM), Doris Lonta (Channel 1 TV), Nana Yaw Gyimah (Luv FM/JoyNews), and Joseph Obeng (Nhyira FM/Adom News) are doing well.
Our colleague, Akwasi Adomako, a Camera Technician with JoyNews, underwent a successful surgery on his right thigh on Saturday 9th November and is currently in recovery at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital. We continue to wish him a speedy and full recovery.
The GJA expresses profound appreciation to journalists across the country, members of the public, and particularly the EPA, for their solidarity, care, and cooperation during this challenging period.
As we collectively pursue environmental protection and public interest journalism, we must also prioritize our own safety and security in the line of duty. Covering illegal mining (galamsey) operations poses significant risks. Our field monitoring confirms that many of these sites in the Ashanti Region are volatile, with illegal miners often armed and prone to violence against anyone perceived as a threat to their activities.
We therefore urge journalists to always assess and clarify the level of risk before undertaking such assignments, including those in collaboration with anti-galamsey taskforces. It is imperative that adequate security and safety measures are guaranteed before venturing into high-risk zones.
Let us remain vigilant. Let us demand protection. And above all, let us stay alive to continue telling the stories that matter.
Signed…
Kofi Adu Domfeh
Ashanti Reegional Chairman, GJA.
November 10, 2025
