This development follows controversy which has erupted after the Ghana government said it is now on a manhunt for the show's two stars Scott Lomu and George Wright because of alleged "severe brutalities" that is seen in Jungle Gold, because small scale mining by "non-Ghanaians are illegal" and because the Ghana government feels Jungle Gold "portrays Ghana in a negative light".
Jungle Gold started broadcasting across Africa on MultiChoice's DStv from April after it was also shown in the United States and the reality show was renewed for a second season.
In it cameras follow them in Africa's second largest gold-producing country, looking for gold close to the Mirim river on an 80 acre claim.
Ghana's minister for lands and natural resources, Inusah Fuseini spoke on a Ghana radio programme saying that Jungle Gold "portrays Ghana as a jungle, where no laws exists and where people can come and act with impunity, and that we don't regulate mining in the country."
Inusah Fuseini said that regarding small scale mining "no foreign national is allowed by the minerals and mining law to engage in this" and that "people who are non-Ghanaian have no business in engaging in small scale mining and to take the opportunity to film this in activities which shows Ghana in a negative light."
The comments from the Ghanaian government has instantly placed Discovery and the Jungle Gold production under immense pressure with fears for the safety of Scott Lomu, George Wright and the production crew.
A Discovery spokesperson tells TV with Thinus that "Discovery was completing its second season of shooting at an unrelated mine when our cast and crew were made aware of some events and media attention which we felt put them at risk."
Discovery says "all cast and crew members have left the area."
It's not clear at this stage whether Discovery and the production team secured the necessary permits, documents and permission for the reality stars to commence what Ghana considers "small scale mining", and whether all the relevant Ghanaian governmental departments gave permission for it to be filmed.
