1 Dead, Chief and Six Others Shot in Violent Clash Linked to Illegal Mining at Asawinso
A 36-year-old man has been shot dead while a chief and six others sustained gunshot injuries following a violent confrontation linked to illegal mining activities at Asawinso in the Bibiani Anhwiaso Bekwai Municipality.
The deceased, identified as Kwame Ayisi, was reportedly part of a group led by the chief of Sefwi Asawinso “A”, Nana Kwasi Ayim II, who visited the Afao Hill Forest Reserve over concerns about illegal mining activities destroying the area.
According to eyewitnesses, the chief and some youth from the community had gone to assess the extent of damage allegedly caused by galamsey operators and to engage the miners in discussions aimed at stopping the activities.
An eyewitness, Kwame Awudu, stated that the chief peacefully appealed to the miners to halt operations in the forest reserve before the group began returning home.
However, the group was allegedly ambushed by heavily built armed men believed to be linked to the illegal miners, who reportedly opened fire on them.
Kwame Ayisi died in the attack, while Nana Kwasi Ayim II and six others sustained gunshot wounds and were rushed to the Anhwiaso Community Hospital for treatment.
Assembly Member for the Asawinso “A” Electoral Area, Frank Nelson Ackah, described the incident as shocking and called for urgent security intervention to restore calm and tackle illegal mining activities in the area.
