But as Ghanaian mining activist Daniel Owusu-Koranteng told me, illiterate cocoa farmers are not accustomed to receiving giant sums of cash at once. George Wright and Scott Lomu filming in Ghana for Jungle Gold. We really liked the people of Ghana, the people we worked with. As they prepared for shooting one day in May, they heard that armed militia had attacked miners near their old site. The next day, Joy FM dispatched its Kumasi correspondent, Erastus Asare Donkor, to gather reactions to the story in the citys streets and markets. They had first heard about the show in July 2012, while the cast and crew were still in Ghana filming Season 1. A month after the Jungle Gold evacuation, the Ghanaian government conducted a nationwide crackdown on illegal foreign miners, causing thousands of Chinese nationals to be deported. They hoped early struggles would lead to large profits by the end of the 10-episode run, benefiting . But where? Scott Lomu and George Wright, . He later learned Macias had become dependent on pain medication due to injuries he suffered in a roadside bomb attack. But he dropped out after a year to serve a Mormon mission in Buenos Aires. Obviously, wed appreciate it if the gold prices were higher, always; however, were still feeling very good about the price of gold today. One of the biggest lessons weve learned is dealing with people. . 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But their new status as wanted men made riveting TV with little effort. When the captain took off the seatbelt sign, they roamed the cabin, high-fiving each other and cracking cans of beer. Steve Wright is to leave his BBC Radio 2 weekday show after almost 24 years, after the station's boss told him she wants to . How is the gold market lately? I can say this, the head guy on Gold Rush hates us and we don't know why? He was still there when I showed up six months later. Months later, on March 6, 2013, Wright posted a photo on Instagram of Raw interviewing Lomu outside a Utah diner. I thought, Why have the authorities not intervened?. If the global gold price plummeted, many more would leave Ghana voluntarily, depriving poor mining villages of what had become a crucial source of support. Scott Lomu: Because weve moved from Friday to Sunday it seems like our audience has gotten a lot younger. I was astonished, Mensah said months later. While Ghanaians in the diaspora were railing against Jungle Gold online, members of Ghanas Minerals Commission were quietly fuming about its existence. He was standing on his bed in boxer briefs as his wife lay beside him and laughed. But for those thinking that theyre bad actors or are, worse, faking the drama, they have an offer for you come to visit them in Ghana for a few days. Ghanas Minerals Commission had taken to decrying what it called the illegal mining menace., These controversies presented possible PR problems. The only money these guys will ever have is the money they get from the producer who pays them at least $20-30,000 per episode. He was sawing into an overcooked hamburger patty when he glanced at the flatscreen on the wall. Tay saw the show itself as a good thing for the village. (It has since been clarified in the wake of Jungle Gold.) How could I not show that?. Todd Hoffman, Tony Beets, and Parker Schnabel in Gold Rush. Ready to get to work in Africa!, Jungle Gold may have enraged Ghanaian ex-pats and officials, but it was a hit with Americas 1849-year-old demographic. I don't watch the show, but I'm curious if it makes an attempt to discuss the environmental impacts (bulldozing forests, polluting water with mercury and arsenic, etc.) In the five years it takes a cocoa tree to fruit, he said, they often make poor decisions that cause them to be economically or physically displaced. The lure of foreign wages, he added, can incentivize village youth to drop out of school. Aboard a two-story mining dredge as it plies the brown waters of the Amazon jungle, he captures Guyanese miners laughing and telling jokes over lunch. He also began investing in real estate, which was how he met Scott Lomu. George Wright has been appointed as Vice President of Public Relations and Scott Lomu as Vice President of Investor Relations. S: That's a great question, we get it a lot. is that truth, are they gone? Scott and George test out a brand new claim after racking up huge debts on the Romaso gold mine. Petitions called for its cancellation and Wright and Lomu were attacked on social networks and in the media. He found instead the two articles in My Joy Online ordering his arrest and accusing him of killing people. Viewers were shocked that Americans would broadcast illegal mining, and activists claimed throwing money at people unused to financial decision-making was a mistake. It mostly comes down to the bravest of us all which is our wives they support us 100 percent. _________________________________________, Scott Lomu, George Wright and Dave Thomas of Jungle Gold: Credit Discovery Channel, The money was given to Dave so they could mine that land,I even think it a bit suspicious that he walked away Scott free and no-one says anything, Really enjoyed watching but what about the money they gave to Dave Thomas are they not wanting it back,after all it wasnt their money it was the father in laws. They wanted to know how we had allowed such a disgusting program to air on TV, a spokesperson for the commission told me. When the episode ended, he immediately decided to investigate Jungle Gold. Prior to the fight, locals had regarded the cast and crew with friendly curiosity. Watching the videos, I got the sense that Wright and Lomu, regretful over Jungle Gold, were trying to redeem themselves by portraying Guyana in a flattering light. Wright and Lomu have a plan for a new reality show, about mining and selling gold and their home lives. The other was Wally Macias, a charismatic Mexican-American and former undercover narcotics agent in Kanab, Utah. Despite their failures, the pair remain hopeful for the future. A lot of questions have been asked in Ghana about how, and why so many illegal miners were allowed to mine in Ghana without paperwork for so long. Get a job, get a life, get real. You were slightly mislead. They whine at how poor they are, yet no wife works (the husbands hardly do either) they live in big mansions, drive fancy cars? During that time Contribute to changjiangsx/sbm development by creating an account on GitHub. Greenhorn gold miners George Wright and Scott Lomu put everything on the line -- their lives included -- to hit pay dirt in the gold-rich and danger-filled jungles of Ghana. In April 2013, it premiered on Ghanaian TV. it was rated as one of the top programs on the Discovery Channel. There were reports of armed robberies in Chinese mining camps as locals and foreign rivals fought for land. In this weeks episode, the pressure continues to mount. I can hardly wait to see what drama they come up with next. Lomu took out a loan modification to save his mortgage; Wrights home went into foreclosure. Jungle Gold. Seconds later, a gunshot rings out. Just goes to show how really gullible Hollywood thinks the viewing public is. The entire landscape of the mining industry over the last year has changed dramatically, and so we encountered a lot this season. It now occurred to him that theyd simply resumed filming after the August meeting. By this time, Ghanas mining industry was in chaos, with Al Jazeera reporting on the dangers of illegal mining, fuelled by widespread corruption. In June, they produced a series of short videos to show prospective investors. George Wright and Scott Lomu of Discovery's "Jungle Gold" (Sundays at 10:00 p.m. The episode catalogued a series of ugly confrontations, including an illegal roadblock, the tense argument with tribal chiefs, and a risky back alley gold deal. . Under Review. A heated argument ensued. Fans have praised stunning MAFS newcomer Evelyn for her mission to hold a groom accountable for his bad behaviour towards his wife. That night, Wright and Lomu rendezvoused with the crew at the Golden Tulip, where everything began. We are Scott Lomu & George Wright, We can't speak to other reality shows but are happy to share about ours and what it's been like. George Wright: Theres a lot of entrepreneurs out there that get in touch with us. They explain better he is a broker. How Does the CBS True Lies Series Compare to James Camerons 1994 Movie. The Chinese miners remained on the site, and Lomu forfeited the money he paid for it. Desperate for cash, he recruited two men he thought would make enthusiastic gold dealers. The show, the first article said, captured horrifying scenes of foreigners taking over mining sites and killing indigenes. In the second, Fuseini promised to track down and arrest the two Americans. We fell comfortable. I got a chance to talk with the pair about how the show came about, how they feel about those that accuse them of faking and what their wives really think of what theyre doing. This show is 90% scripted, the laws they portray in the show are complete non-sense. Discovery was so impressed by the clips they upped the season from 10 episodes to 16. Weve learned the people of Ghana and weve always known this are great, humble people.. Just that fast, he blocked me and Scott and never gives an ounce (no pun intended) of support. They were convinced theyd be arrested at the airport and imprisoned. Those guys on the dredge they were having a really good time. He paused. After a month of waiting, Alan Reece, the mining foreman, contacted the landowner for an update on his application. Website: www.ensurgegold.com, Ensurge, Inc.Clint Mishleau, 702-728-5187ensurgeinfo@gmail.com, Internet Explorer presents a security risk. It looked like we were being mocked, Donkor said. As he later told Wright, All it takes is a handful of guys with firearms to see the show and come looking for us.. | Learn more about Scott Lomu's work experience, education, connections . The cast and crew hid at a nearby compound, where they discovered Wright was suspected of murder and the authorities wanted them arrested. By the time the season ended, three Change.org petitions had called for the shows cancellation, drawing a total of 3,000 supporters from the U.S., Europe, South America, Australia, and across West Africa. In 2011, Scott Lomu saw the Discovery channel TV show Gold Rush and was perplexed that it was a hit. The Mormons stuck to soda. But as the cast and crews Land Rovers pull out, a pile of logs impedes their path. Hes a gentleman whos a land broker. Watch the Run For the Border episode. Why moan about something just find something else to watch. Yet, at the same time, Ghanas small-scale mining sector had grown increasingly chaotic. It could be a painful reality but that's the way it is. Tay, who at 53 resembles an older version of the actor Idris Elba, grew up in Accra before embarking on a mining career in his thirties. George: When we first originally went to Africa gold was actually lower than it is today, even though its taken a hit over this last year. Consumed with other business, hed all but forgotten about Raw. Other scenes needed no stage-managing. We just like to do our thing, it's all we can do really. We do answer questions and stay in touch here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFDu1cQjqGaj-3wBYavW1Hg/videos. management team. Tens of thousands of foreigners, the majority of them Chinese, had flocked to the countrys rural mining regions since the recession, lured by stories of Klondike-caliber windfalls. George Wright have accepted positions as members of the Companys TV-PG. Fri 1 Jul 2022 13.18 EDT. The company owned a large mining operation in Guyana, a former British colony on the Caribbean coast of South America. Macias took his own life, and the wheels were set in motion for their star-crossed show. Scott: Things have been getting pretty tense in Ghana because our show has shed a lot of light on a lot of illegal mining activity happening in Ghana. So, thanks again. Now, it seemed, Ghana was taking its revenge. ET) give the term "gold diggers" a literal spin with this reality show, now in its second season. Bering Sea Gold, a new offshoot, was averaging 3 million viewers a night. In 2009, when Lomus father-in-law, a wealthy lawyer in Salt Lake City, suggested Lomu try dealing gold in Ghana, he latched onto the idea. One of them was Wright, whose entrepreneurial drive and years in South America Lomu saw as an asset. Furious, Wright and Lomu gathered a dozen local chiefs and tribal elders to solve the dispute. We met him last year. miners were regularly killed or injured thanks to unsafe practices, Queen: Fans fall in love with MAFS wife, MAFS husbands vile boys night act exposed. I talked with Scott and George by phone recently about Jungle Gold, a few days after the Season 2 premiere. Former real estate high-rollers George and Scott regularly turned over million dollar deals. Then the Joy Midday News came on TV. George Wright has been appointed as Vice President of Public Relations and. But many viewers of Jungle Gold thought exploiting Ghanaians was precisely what Wright and Lomu had done. Etc. So Literally Ask US Anything, we can't spoil the upcoming season, but anything else is fine. How did he come to acquire his assets? Lomu and Wright didnt head to Africa with dreams of reality TV stardom, and it seems having a camera crew around when youre trying to work is more of a pain than anything else. We initially we went to Africa with the last of our cash to flip gold, arbitrage, we hoped to buy it low and sell it for a bit more and create some velocity with that initial capital secured by a real asset the entire time. The robbery scene was intense but definitely felt like the video was pulled off a little too well. According to Wikipedia, Forbes, IMDb & Various Online resources, famous American Football Player George Wright's net worth is $1-5 Million at the age of 72 years old. Find out more about our policy and your choices, including how to opt-out. (A spokesperson for Raw would not comment on whether the farmer was paid.) Is this show supposed to be a comedy? It was another disaster. ", "The stage is being set for a redemptive second season of Jungle Gold., Your weekday morning guide to breaking news, cultural analysis, and everything in between, This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google. Its a sad story, but their determination to continue in Wallys honor is one you have to hear. But, you will find Ghana a fantastic country. George: We met him towards the end of our last little stint out there. Big fan of the show, one my friends is from Ghana and I got him watching the show as well. Brigham Young, the president of the church, was nervous about it, criticizing it as a tenuous and irregularly profitable profession. Such sermons did little to dissuade Mormons, whose trademark optimism stems from a belief that God is on their side. Haha! They had brought in work and money after all. The two Americans will be tracked down and arrested, a Ghanaian official declared. There were more tweets during our reruns that Sunday [during a Season 1 marathon] than we got all of last year. What sort of feedback do you get from viewers about the show? A soaring Mormon temple, one of only three on the continent, sits in the heart of Accras commercial district, surrounded by European embassies. Now Wright and Lomu are the stars When the market fails where do you go? In April 2015, they were hired by Utah-based mining company Ensurge to share their mining expertise in Guyana and help attract investors. It may have been their worst nightmare, but it made gripping TV. Interview: Scott Lomu and George Wright of "Jungle Gold". We encountered a lot of stuff thats never been shown on TV. I am guessing season two would have already been recorded when this article came out. They hired a former special services agent to beef up security and instituted a no-mercury policy, barring laborers from handling the toxic liquid. The chief warned that if they fought the miners, they would be killed. Gold dealing, they concluded, was a scam. And its worked up to this point. Laborers were shown polluting water bodies with mercury, which is used to recover gold from other minerals. Coincidentally, Discovery had recently reserved a Russian helicopter to take aerial shots of Wright and Lomus new excavator as it trundled into Fahiakobo. Nevertheless, the district officer demanded Raw visit the Minerals Commissions headquarters in Accra before they continued filming. To ensure the most secure and best overall experience on our website, we recommend the latest versions of. Tweet. to possess the upside potential we considered to be a prerequisite. Id understand if the kid was in a coma or on life support but for the love of god, he wil still be autistic when daddy does a few weeks work and hopefully finds some gold. Am I supposed to feel bad for their debt as they exploit Africans? technology to existing mining operations to recover gold from existing Public Relations and Scott Lomu as Vice President of Investor Relations. Scott Lomu and George Wright, hapless heroes of Discoverys Jungle Gold, finally had to flee the country by plane to escape arrest and the armed militia who seemed to be pursuing them. These two are typical failed realtors who have entitlement issues just like the rest of the yuppies of their generation. Check out George Wright's Bio Now What happens when a government shuts down an illegal camp is it basically displaces 80-100 local young men who no longer have a job. Board of Mining Advisors. It shows A side of us, and we're hoping to show another side with you guys. Do you guys take any measures to minimize your impact? When Lomu suggested removing the miners by force, a chief replied: If you attempt it, they will kill you! The crew captured everything on film and loved it. 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