A violent clash at an illegal mining site at Asawinso “A” in the Bibiani Anhwiaso Bekwai Municipality of the Western North Region has left one person dead and six others critically injured following a shooting incident linked to illegal mining activities.
The deceased, identified as 36-year-old Kwame Ayisie, died after gunmen suspected to be connected to illegal miners allegedly opened fire on a group led by the chief of the community.
The injured victims are receiving treatment at the Anhwiaso Community Hospital.
According to the Chief, Nana Kwasi Ayim III, the incident occurred on Monday, May 18, when he and some youth from the community visited the Afao Hill Forest Reserve, where illegal mining activities were reportedly taking place.
The chief said the visit was intended to assess the extent of environmental destruction caused by illegal miners operating in the forest reserve.
He explained that prior to the incident, Ogyeahoho Yaw Gyebi II had summoned him to explain why illegal mining activities had been allowed to continue in the community.
“I went there to engage the illegal miners in a peaceful discussion and appealed to them to stop the illegal mining activities, but while we were returning from the site, we were ambushed by heavily built men believed to be connected to the illegal miners,” Nana Ayim III said.
According to him, the attackers opened fire on the group, leaving several people seriously injured.
Frank Nelson Ackah, President of the Ghana Association of Assembly Members, also confirmed the incident, stating that the chief and the youth had only gone to inspect the level of destruction caused by illegal mining activities before the attack occurred.
He said tension had escalated in the community following the killing of Kwame Ayisie, who reportedly left behind a wife and four children.
A delegation made up of officials from the Western North Regional Police Command and representatives of the Anhwiaso Traditional Council later visited the injured victims and the bereaved family.
The delegation assured residents that the perpetrators would be arrested and prosecuted.
Authorities confirmed that one suspect had been arrested while investigations continued to locate other persons connected to the attack.
Residents and some traditional leaders in the area are reportedly living in fear following the shooting, amid growing concerns over the influence of illegal mining groups in parts of the region.
Communities including Sefwi Chine, Ntakam, Aboabo, Asawinso and Nketiaso have been identified as areas heavily affected by galamsey activities.
Residents have appealed to the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat to deploy personnel to the affected communities to intensify the fight against illegal mining.
Source: GNA
