Renowned Ghanaian journalist Erastus Asare Donkor has commended the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources Armah Kofi Buah, the Defence Minister, Omane Boamah and the Forestry Commission for their swift intervention in addressing illegal mining activities in the Tano Anwia Forest Reserve.
In a social media post, Erastus Asare Donkor acknowledged the prompt response of government authorities to the issue but stressed that the fight against illegal mining is far from over. He pointed out that while significant progress has been made, illegal mining continues in other areas, including the Tano Nimri, Ohiampeanika, and Datanor sections, as well as the Boin Tano GSBA area.
Addressing claims that he harbours animosity towards the Lands Minister, Armah Kofi Buah, Erastus Asare Donkor dismissed such assertions, stating that he fully supports the minister’s efforts and believes in collaboration to ensure lasting solutions. He contrasted the current administration’s approach with the previous NPP administration, revealing that former Lands Minister Samuel Abu Jinapor ignored his calls, while Armah Kofi Buah has engaged him in the fight against galamsey.
Erastus Donkor emphasized that time is critical in protecting Ghana’s forest reserves, urging authorities to act swiftly to prevent irreversible environmental damage. He maintained that his work as a journalist is solely to hold the government accountable to its promise of eliminating illegal mining in forest reserves.
“In the previous administration, though the minister for lands then, Abu Jinapor gave me his number and said I should call him, he never picked any of my calls. Armah Kofi Buah called me the day he was appointed to head the ministry. He had a simple message, I need you to help me fight this canker (Galamsey)
Since then I’ve gone round with an advisory team he set up. He made us start from his own constituency. But you see in this Galamsey fight especially in forest reserves, every minute, every hour delayed records an unimaginable permanent destruction. The NPP administration failed to act and the result is this level of devastation; vast forest turned into pits and gullies.” Part of the statement read.
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