At least four persons have been killed, and 15 others sustained injuries following a clash involving residents of Manso Keniago in the Amansie South District of the Ashanti Region and personnel of the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS), Assembly Member for the area Charles Oduro confirmed Wednesday evening.
The updated casualty figures follow an earlier report that two NAIMOS officers sustained gunshot wounds during a confrontation with an armed group while the task force was transporting excavators seized during an anti-illegal mining operation to a designated location for safekeeping.
Oduro explained a confrontation erupted between the residents and NAIMOS personnel after a disagreement over the transportation of seized excavators through the community.
He said some residents and traditional authorities had wanted the equipment transported on low-bed trailers rather than being driven along the road.
According to him, the disagreement escalated into gunfire, leaving four people dead and 15 others injured. He said the victims were from Manso Keniago and surrounding communities, including Ketanpo.
“Some are from there, and others from Keniago, and others from different communities,” said Oduro.
The Assembly Member spoke while visiting injured persons receiving treatment at St Martin’s Hospital. He described the situation as distressing and disclosed that a police officer was also hit during attempts to calm the situation.
“Even the police came to intervene, to let the NAIMOS people calm down, so that they take the right turn to convey the excavator. But even one police officer was hit by one of the NAIMOS,” he added.
He further disclosed that a police inspector was present and had attempted to de-escalate the confrontation.
Asked whether any NAIMOS personnel had also been injured, Mr Oduro said he had not personally seen any such cases.
NAIMOS had earlier said two of its personnel sustained gunshot wounds during the incident. The Secretariat said its task force encountered an armed group attempting to obstruct the movement of the seized excavators and that officers fired warning shots to prevent further escalation.
Despite the Assembly Member’s account, both the police and government officials are yet to issue an official statement on the matter.
