Some Ghanaian Facebook users have expressed outrage over the removal of posts about The Fourth Estate's latest exposé on a scramble by some government officials and politically exposed persons to mine in Ghana's forest reserves.
The Fourth Estate, in its latest exposé, has named some government officials and members of the governing party reportedly using their companies to mine in protected forest reserves that threaten both the forests and some water bodies.
They named several officials, including Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Chairman Wontumi, Kumasi Mayor Sam Pyne, and the NPP's 2024 Parliamentary candidate for Juaben, Francis Owusu-Akyaw, among others.
Read also: Forest Invasion: Companies owned by Wontumi, Kumasi mayor & others scramble to mine in Ghana's forest reserves The Fourth Estate revealed that while some of these officials publicly advocate for environmental sustainability and tree planting, their companies are involved in activities that threaten the existence of forest reserves.
Following the exposé, concerned citizens took to Facebook to express their displeasure over the alleged misconduct of these officials, only to find their posts removed or blocked by Facebook for violating "community standards." However, some social media users have speculated that elements within the government may be behind this as a form of censorship.
Below are a few comments from the platform.
When reached for comments on the development, a source at The Fourth Estate told Myjoyonline that the public interest journalism outfit has written to Facebook to seek clarity on the matter.
Tags: Facebook Illegal mining The Fourth Estate Related to this story Galamsey is killing our country; we must boldly name the perpetrators - Kwame Jantuah NPP, NDC statements on 'galamsey' insulting; clear show of negligence - Movement for Change Forest Invasion: Companies owned by Wontumi, Kumasi mayor & others scramble to mine in Ghana's forest reserves Annoh Dompreh: An example of retrogressive representative of his people Why delay in prosecuting galamsey suspects in forest reserves? - Ken Ashigbey quizzes Galamsey: Large part of Tano Anwia Forest Reserves decimated by illegal miners Lands Minister calls for an emergency meeting to crackdown on illegal mining Some of you are involved; don't go to illegal miners for campaign funds - Speaker to MPs Only our manifesto pledges to combat menace of 'galamsey' - NDC Galamsey: NDC polluted water more than us - Annoh Dompreh