Five Injured in Clashes Between Residents and Soldiers Over Mining Site Reclamation in Manso Nyankomase
Five residents suffered gunshot wounds during a tense clash with soldiers on October 14, 2025, in Manso Nyankomase, Amansie South District, Ashanti Region, as military personnel attempted to reclaim a small-scale mining site amid the government’s intensified anti-galamsey campaign.
The incident unfolded around 7 a.m. when armed soldiers arrived to evict miners and residents from the site, part of efforts to restore land degraded by illegal operations. According to eyewitnesses and local assemblyman Stephen Nsiah Kesse, the troops ordered immediate evacuation without prior notice, leading to resistance from youth who demanded time to gather belongings. Tensions escalated as soldiers allegedly chased people, firing warning shots that struck five, including three women and two men, in non-fatal areas.
Kesse, speaking on GhanAkoma on Akoma 87.9 FM on October 15, described the chaos: “They were not armed or fighting… The whole place was filled with panic and shouting.” The victims were rushed to Manso Adubia Government Hospital, where they received treatment and were stabilized. No deaths were reported, and calm has since returned, though residents remain on edge.
The reclamation exercise, led by a contractor under the Lands and Natural Resources Ministry, aimed to halt galamsey that has polluted local water sources and destroyed farmlands. However, locals accused the military of excessive force, noting an earlier agreement for community engagement was ignored. “We don’t know if it’s the NDC executives from Manso Adubia or someone else,” a resident told 3News, highlighting confusion over the operation’s leadership.
In response, angry youth blocked the Manso–Datano road, burning tires and chanting, disrupting traffic for hours. The blockade ended peacefully after negotiations with police, but the community vowed further protests if unresolved. Amansie South District Chief Executive Isaac Appiah-Kusi condemned the violence, assuring an investigation and emphasizing galamsey’s toll: “This is the only place we work to earn a living.”
