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.
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 toinspect the level of destruction caused by illegal mining activities before the attack occurred.
