Tension remains high in Mpatuam, Amansie West District, weeks after a violent confrontation between local youth and soldiers guarding Asanko Mine left one Assembly Member dead and several others injured.
Despite a heavy military presence, illegal miners continue to invade concessions belonging to Asanko Mines, raising fears of another outbreak of violence.
The Clash
The unrest was triggered after residents accused Asanko Mines’ security of killing an illegal miner who had entered the company’s concession. When the family rejected the body, agitated youth blocked roads in protest, escalating hostilities.
On September 9, 2025, a standoff between residents and the military spiraled into chaos, leading to the death of Aboabo Assembly Member, Samuel Danquah, while two others sustained serious injuries. One victim, Kofi Nyarko, a worker at BLOJ Company Limited, is still in hospital battling gunshot wounds.
“I nearly lost my life,” Nyarko recounted. “The youth caught me inside the company vehicle. They came with weapons and almost set the bus ablaze. They said they were after Asanko workers for killing an illegal miner.”
Mining Firms Count Their Losses
The violence has also dealt a heavy blow to ancillary mining companies operating in the Esaase enclave of Asanko Mines. Firms including Rabotec Ghana Limited, AKL Company Limited, Zen Ghana Limited, BLOJ Company Limited, and GTS Ghana Limited report losing millions of cedis in vandalized property.
“We lost an entire bus that was set on fire, a truck, and an excavator. Some equipment was stripped and damaged,” said George Japka, HR Manager at AKL. “Operations have been badly disrupted. We’ve had to relocate workers to nearby towns and scale down activities.”
Fragile Calm Under Threat
Residents say galamsey operators are exploiting the unrest to push deeper into mining concessions, worsening an already volatile situation.
“We are scared of what might happen next,” one resident told reporters.
With illegal incursions persisting, both the community and mining companies fear that another violent clash may be imminent.
Source: Angel No Lie
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