Opanin Kofi Manu addressing the media
Traditional authorities and youth of Tontokrom in the Amansie South District of the Ashanti Region have petitioned the National Media Commission (NMC) over what they describe as persistent attempts by some media personalities to tarnish the image of the community through galamsey-related reportage.
The aggrieved residents accused the personalities, who are anti-galamsey crusaders, of allegedly portraying Tontokrom as a lawless community where illegal mining activities are carried out openly without regard for environmental laws.
Their petition follows a Facebook post by journalist Erastus Asare Donkor, in which he reportedly stated, “Manso Tontokrom is the only town where galamsey has taken seed. Even soldiers are afraid of enforcing environmental laws in that town, galamsey is done glaringly.”
However, the traditional authorities and youth have strongly objected the statement, accusing the journalist of repeatedly attributing incidents that occurred outside Tontokrom, including those in other regions, to their community.
According to the aggrieved residents, several of his publications have allegedly linked illegal mining activities and other incidents in different locations to Tontokrom, thereby creating a negative impression of the community among Ghanaians.
Addressing a press conference, the youth warned against the deliberate agenda to destroy the reputation of their community, threatening to expose anyone who continues with the alleged conduct.
The Abusuapanin of Tontokrom, Opanin Kofi Manu, who spoke on behalf of the traditional authorities, urged journalists to conduct thorough investigations and establish the facts surrounding incidents before publishing their stories.
He cautioned that irresponsible journalism and the publication of unverified information could create unnecessary tension and potentially trigger mayhem in the country.
Traditional Ritual
In a dramatic development after the press conference, a Unit Committee member, Haruna Iddrisu, popularly known as Tontokrom DC, led a section of the aggrieved youth in a traditional ritual against persons they believed harboured evil intentions towards the community.
The group slaughtered a sheep and a chicken, alongside the use of eggs, in a traditional invocation intended to invoke curses on anyone allegedly seeking to destroy the image of Tontokrom.
The youth accused such individuals of using negative publicity about the community to make money at the expense of its reputation.
They maintained that they would not remain silent while the image of Tontokrom was allegedly being dragged into disrepute.
FROM David Afum, Tontokrom