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TONTOKROM RESIDENTS DECLARE WAR ON ALLEGED FALSE REPORTAGE,INVOKE TRADITIONAL CURSE AGAINST JOURNALIST ERATUS ASARE DONKO
Community leaders accuse multimedia journalist of tarnishing Tontokrom’s image,dispute claims of political protection and bribery of security agencies and warn against what they describe as deliberate misinformation.
By:Hon Justice Baffour Awuah/Managing Editor, DailyWatchGH.com-0246930931
Residents of Tontokrom,a mining community in the Amansie South District of the Ashanti Region,have expressed outrage over what they describe as persistent misleading and damaging media reports about their community,culminating in the invocation of traditional curses against multimedia journalist Eratus Asare Donko.
The residents accuse the journalist of repeatedly publishing reports they believe are intended to portray Tontokrom negatively,undermine public confidence in the community and damage its reputation.
Addressing a press conference at the Tontokrom Lorry Station on Saturday,November 7,2026,community representatives,including Simpleman and Mr Malik,voiced serious concerns over what they described as unfair,unbalanced and unprofessional reportage.
According to the representatives,the disagreement between the community and the journalist has allegedly persisted over the years,with residents claiming that his publications have consistently presented Tontokrom in an unfavourable light.
In a particularly serious allegation,the residents claimed that the journalist had demanded a substantial amount of money from the community and suggested that their refusal to meet the alleged demand contributed to the negative reports.
The financial-demand allegation,however,has not been independently substantiated, and the journalist’s response was not available at the time of publication.
TONTOKROM RESIDENTS REJECT ALLEGATIONS OF POLITICAL PROTECTION AND BRIBERY
The community also strongly disputed reports and allegations suggesting that Tontokrom enjoys political protection from the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) and that residents allegedly bribe security agencies,including the Military,Police and other security personnel,to prevent them from undertaking mining-related operations in the area.
The residents described such claims as fabricated,misleading and damaging to the community’s reputation,insisting that the general public should not accept them as established facts without credible evidence.
They maintained that any publication suggesting political influence or the bribery of security agencies must be supported by verifiable facts rather than speculation or unsubstantiated allegations.
WARNING AGAINST FURTHER PUBLICATIONS
The aggrieved representatives issued a strong warning against what they consider further attempts to circulate fabricated or misleading information about Tontokrom.
They specifically cautioned the journalist against using his media platforms,including his personal Facebook page,to disseminate reports they believe could further damage the image of the community.
The residents insisted that Tontokrom would not remain silent while its reputation was allegedly being undermined through what they described as irresponsible and unprofessional journalism.
They further called on media practitioners to uphold the fundamental principles of journalism,particularly accuracy,fairness, balance,objectivity and accountability.
According to them, journalists have a professional responsibility to verify information,establish the facts and offer affected individuals or communities an opportunity to respond before publishing allegations capable of causing reputational damage.
CALL FOR RESPONSIBLE JOURNALISM
The unfolding controversy raises serious concerns about media ethics,journalistic accountability,the verification of information and the potentially damaging consequences of unsubstantiated publications.
While communities have every right to challenge reports they consider inaccurate or misleading,allegations involving political protection,bribery and professional misconduct must be subjected to independent verification and fair scrutiny.
Meanwhile,DailyWatchGH.com remains committed to following the development and welcomes a formal response from Eratus Asare Donko to ensure that his position is fairly represented.
The public deserves facts,evidence and responsible journalism,not accusations presented as established truth.
Opaning Kofi Manu,Abusuapanin of the Tontokrom community,speaking on behalf of the traditional authorities,has cautioned multimedia journalist Eratus Asare Donko to desist from publications they consider damaging to the community’s reputation.
He urged the journalist to let Tontokrom be and allow peace to prevail,stressing that the traditional authorities would not welcome further actions capable of creating tension or undermining the peace and unity of the community.
