Ghana EPA Supports Journalists After Mining Accident

When five Ghanaian journalists survived a serious vehicle crash while covering illegal mining, their story could have ended in tragedy. Instead, it became a testament to institutional responsibility and genuine care.

The journalists were on assignment with Ghana's Environmental Protection Authority on November 6, 2025, documenting illegal mining activities near Nkawie. Their vehicle collided head-on with an oncoming car at Afari, leaving all five team members injured.

Two months later, EPA Chief Executive Professor Nana Ama Browne Klutse led a delegation to visit each recovering journalist at home. The team checked on Ibrahim Abubakar, Doris Lonta, Nana Yaw Gyimah, Joseph Obeng, and Akwasi Adomako, representing major Ghanaian media outlets including TV3, Channel One TV, and JoyNews.

Four journalists have fully returned to work and report good health. Akwasi Adomako is recovering at home after successful surgery on his right thigh, with doctors reporting steady progress.

The Ripple Effect

The EPA's response demonstrates how institutions can protect journalists who risk their safety for public interest reporting. Their sustained support through hospital visits, family check-ins, and media house coordination goes beyond legal obligation into genuine partnership.

The Ghana Journalists Association's Ashanti branch recognized this commitment publicly. Regional Chairperson Kofi Adu Domfeh praised the EPA's example while reminding media organizations everywhere of their duty to protect reporters in dangerous assignments.

Environmental journalism in Ghana carries real risks. Illegal mining investigations often take reporters into volatile areas where accidents, confrontations, and security threats are common. The EPA's protective approach makes future collaboration more likely and sets standards other agencies can follow.

The Association now calls on all institutions to provide adequate safety measures when engaging journalists for potentially dangerous work. This accident sparked important conversations about protective equipment, transport safety, and emergency response protocols for media assignments.

These five reporters were doing essential work exposing environmental crimes that harm Ghanaian communities. Their recovery and the EPA's supportive response ensure this critical journalism continues without journalists bearing the cost alone.