2 killed, 1 injured as NDC groups clash over control of galamsey site in Tano-Anwia Forest Reserve

Two NDC galamsey groups have clashed at a site in the Tano-Anwia forest reserve in the Aowin municipality of the Western Region leading to the death of two of them.

One other person is in a critical condition and is receiving treatment at a hospital.

According to Joy News, the two groups, armed with guns and other implements, fought over control of the site on Tuesday, January 22.

MP accused
After the NDC took over the governance of the country, the two armed groups of NDC boys moved to take control over the portion of the first reserve, threatening the lives of forestry officials and concessionaires.

The news portal quoted sources on the ground as accusing the MP for the area of sponsoring the fresh siege on the forest. “But in an interview with JoyNews, he denied involvement, but confirmed those mining are party boys.”

Response
The news portal further quoted forest guards as saying that, “Members of a rapid response team dispatched to stop the illegality were later accosted outside the forest area by the illegal miners on motorbikes, taken to an unknown location and assaulted.

“We destroyed some equipment set up by the illegal miners in the forest as instructed. When we came home, I was accosted by a number of the illegal miners on motorcycles in the town. They forced me to a different location and started interrogating me. They asked why we destroyed their equipment. When I tried to explain, one hit me on the neck with a stick and I fell. Then they picked me up again. Their leader Karim said they should take me to a police station but they didn’t. When I later saw one of my men blood was dripping from his palm. He told me the illegal miners attacked him whilst in town and wanted him to surrender his weapon but he didn’t and they slashed his palm with a machete”.