The reality stars of Jungle Gold on the Discovery Channel (DStv 121) face fines, arrest and even possible imprisonment over charges of alleged brutality and illegal mining in Ghana, with the Ghanaian government which now wants to see Scott Lomu and George Wright apprehended and arrested.
The new reality show Jungle Gold started broadcasting across Africa on MultiChoice's DStv from the beginning of April with a growing scandal which has now erupted around the American TV production filmed on African soil.
After seeing the show, viewers, local media and authorities in Ghana are in uproar. The government in the West African country is livid over what it describes as "severe brutalities" perpetrated by the "illegal miners".
With controversy growing around this Discovery Networks show, the Ghanaian government now plans to track down Scott Lomu and George Wright who've been mining in Romaso in the Ashanti region in the West African country "hoping that they are still there".
According to the Ghanaian government it's illegal for foreigners to engage in the type of small scale mining Scott Lomu and George Wright are seen doing in the reality show.
Jungle Gold was renewed for a second season, and the scandal which has now erupted places a question mark behind the future of the show. Besides other alleged contravensions, according to the government a local Ghanaian is seen in Jungle Gold being strangled until he passed out.
Speaking on radio in Ghana, Ghana's minister for lands and natural resources, Inusah Fuseini said "my attention was drawn to it by many people when it was aired."
Inusah Fuseini said on a Ghana radio news programme that the government is now looking into how the Discovery Networks show came to be filmed in Ghana and that there's big concerns. "It 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."
"It is not what is happening in reality in Ghana," he said. "It portrays Ghana as a lawless country that you can come to and do whatever you want." Inusah Fuseini said there is a possibility that the Discovery "documentary" possibly did get the necessary approval to film the small scale mining operation.
"No foreign national is allowed by the minerals and mining law to engage in this. We seek the collaboration of all stakeholders to help us with this. 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," said Inusah Fuseni.
I've made a media enquiry to Discovery Networks International (DNI) and await a response to questions regarding Jungle Gold and the developing situation regarding the production in Ghana.
UPDATE Tuesday 14 May 17:00 - A Discovery spokesperson has come back to me with a response saying that the Jungle Gold production team has now left the area.
"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. All cast and crew members have left the area."
