Journalist, Ibrahim Abubakr, has recounted a violent attack by suspected illegal miners during an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) operation in the Ashanti Region, which left journalists injured with one of them in critical condition.
Ibrahim Abubakr, who is TV3’s Ashanti Regional Correspondent, was part of an EPA team in the region on November 5, to conduct an anti-galamsey operation aimed at closing shops and arresting individuals selling mining materials without licenses.
Speaking on TV3 on Thursday, November 7, and monitored by NewsDesksGH.com, he explained that the team decided to extend the operation the following day.
“On Thursday, which was yesterday, we decided to continue with the operation,” he said.
He noted that when they got to Obuasi junction, the team split into two groups, with his team moving ahead.
“But on our way to where they’re selling the mining items, we saw some illegal miners mining within water bodies and the officials, together with the media, decided that we will go and see,” he narrated.
Some miners reportedly fled upon seeing the team, but others stayed behind as officials began seizing their equipment.
“Gradually some of them started marching up. Before we realized, they’d surrounded us and tempers were flaring,” he said.
“They were saying they would not allow us to move an inch, and that this is what they do to earn a livelihood, so for that matter, we should leave.”
He said the situation escalated when the miners began pelting the team with stones, forcing them to retreat to their vehicles and flee.
“The vehicle was at top speed and we didn’t know whether they were chasing us. We had intel that they would ambush us,” he narrated.
In the rush however, their vehicle collided with an oncoming truck.
He informed that there were five journalists in the vehicle. One of them, a Multimedia Ghana cameraman, was critically injured and transferred to Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, where he is currently undergoing surgery.
The others were admitted at the Afari Community Hospital, where they are in stable condition.
Out of the four who were at Afari, Ibrahim Abubakr alone have been discharged, but the other three are still being monitored.
The shaken journalist described the experience as traumatic, but said it will not discourage them as journalists from speaking against illegal mining.
