Tension has gripped the community of Gwira Ampansie in the Nzema East Municipality of the Western Region following the fatal shooting of a man allegedly by armed guards protecting a mining company accused of engaging in illegal mining activities.
Police have since arrested six suspects, including three Chinese nationals, in connection with the incident, which has sparked outrage among residents and heightened fears over security in the area.
The deceased, identified as 46-year-old Mensah Ango, was reportedly the brother of the Chief of Gwira Ampansie, Nana Kojo Mensah. Family sources say he was a father of eleven with three wives.
According to information gathered from the community, Mensah Ango was part of a delegation sent by the chief to invite officials of a mining company identified as PRP to the palace over concerns about their operations, which residents claim are being carried out without the required mining permits and documentation.
The delegation, which included some linguists from the palace, reportedly approached the mining site when armed men said to be providing security for the company allegedly opened fire on them without warning.
Mensah Ango was shot and killed instantly while the others managed to flee the scene for safety.
The incident has triggered anger among the youth in the community, with some threatening to burn excavators and other properties belonging to the miners in retaliation.
Residents allege that the armed men protecting the mining site have been terrorising the community for some time, frequently brandishing weapons and firing warning shots to intimidate those who oppose the mining activities.
Some community members further claimed that at least three other persons have allegedly been killed in previous confrontations linked to the same illegal mining operations.
Speaking after the incident, the Chief of Gwira Ampansie, Nana Kojo Mensah, expressed worry over what he described as growing insecurity in the area. He accused authorities, particularly the District Chief Executive, of failing to respond decisively despite repeated complaints made by the community about the activities of the miners and the conduct of the armed guards.
The chief further alleged that some influential individuals within the state apparatus may be protecting the mining company, making it difficult for the community to secure justice.
He has therefore appealed to the Government, President of the Republic, and the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) to intervene urgently and remove the mining company from the area to prevent further violence.
Meanwhile, investigations are ongoing into claims that the mining site is linked to a Canadian national identified only as Simon, who residents allege has connections with some government officials.
The site is also reportedly being linked by residents to an area where the late Major Maxwell Mahama was previously deployed on security duties before his death.
Confirming developments after the shooting, the Municipal Chief Executive for the Nzema East Municipal Assembly, Hon. Herbert Kuah Dickson, stated that six persons, including three Chinese nationals, have been arrested to assist with investigations.
He assured residents that the Assembly and security agencies are taking steps to restore calm and maintain law and order in the community.
