On December 20, 2024, journalist Tawiah was brutally assaulted while accompanying a police team on an operation to clamp down on illegal mining in the Offin Shelter Belt Forest Reserve at Anwiafutu in Ghana’s Ashanti Region.
Tawiah, who was following up on a previous report about illegal mining activities involving Clean Jobs Resources Limited, sustained head and chest injuries, twisted fingers, and multiple cuts after surviving a machete attack.
According to reports, the miners initially fled when the police arrived but later regrouped, armed themselves, and blocked the road. They demanded the release of their arrested colleagues, the return of their seized gold, guns, and equipment, and the deletion of all recorded footage.
As tensions escalated, the miners deflated the tyres of the vehicles carrying civilians, including a Joy News crew, and began hurling stones at the buses. Tawiah was struck in the head, causing severe bleeding.
In a shocking turn of events, the police and a local Assemblyman allegedly retrieved the journalists from the bus and deleted their footage to appease the miners. However, the mob continued its attack.
“They intended to sever my leg, but after hacking three times unsuccessfully, they decided to pelt me with stones,” Tawiah recounted.
The journalist, who is recovering from the ordeal, stated that the police have assured him of an ongoing investigation into the attack.
Please note:
This action will also remove this member from your connections and send a report to the site admin.
Please allow a few minutes for this process to complete.
