The Media Coalition for Development, Adansi, and the National Youth Authority (NYA), Obuasi Municipal, have issued a joint press statement to “clarify” a recent incident involving the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
The statement directly refutes media reports that suggested an EPA team was attacked by Obuasi youth, labeling these reports as “inaccurate and may be misleading”.
The coalition and the NYA provided a different account of the events, emphasizing that the incident did not take place in Obuasi and did not involve the municipality’s youth.
What Transpired at the Scene
According to the joint statement, the EPA team was conducting “routine enforcement duties” at a site located in Dadwen, a suburb within the Adansi North District.
During their duties, the EPA team perceived a “rise in tension and potential for mayhem”4. In response, the team “prudently retreated and left the area to avoid any escalation”.
The statement further explains that the team, concerned about “potential reprisal and ambush,” decided to take an alternative route to Kumasi via Dunkwa-Ayamfuri-Bibiani-Nkawie.
Tragic Accident Involving Journalists
On this alternative route, a separate vehicle carrying journalists was tragically involved in an accident7. This accident resulted in injuries to “some of our colleagues”.
The two organizations expressed their “deepest concern” over the incident and extended their “heartfelt sympathies to the injured journalists, wishing them a speedy recovery”.
Condemnation of “Wrongful Tagging”
A significant portion of the press statement addressed the groups’ “deep concern about the continuous and wrongful tagging of Obuasi youth in unrelated incidents”.
They specifically pointed to the “continuous use of ‘near Obuasi'” as “unfair”.
The statement argued that such misrepresentations have a “negative impact on the image of our young people, especially when these reports reach national and international audiences”. They contended that this unfair perception “undermines the hard work and positive contributions of the youth in the Obuasi Municipality”.
A Call for Responsible Journalism
In light of these events, the Media Coalition and the NYA urged “media practitioners and stakeholders to exercise caution and restraint in their reporting”.
They stressed that it is “essential to verify information before publishing or broadcasting to avoid exacerbating tensions”.
The statement concluded by appreciating the “professionalism and dedication” of their members and colleagues in Adansi and reaffirming their commitment to promoting “peace, development, and responsible journalism”.
The press release was signed by Robert Anokye Gyamfi, Chairman of the Media Coalition for Development, and Ibrahim Adam, the Municipal Youth Director for the National Youth Authority in Obuasi.