Tension at Manso-Akwasiso as residents accuse soldiers of killing a miner
Tension is brewing in Manso Akwasiso, Ashanti Region, after military personnel reportedly chased a 20-year-old miner into a galamsey pit, leading to his death.
The deceased, Evans, was confirmed dead on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, after the military men chased some miners with live ammunition.
According to witnesses, other miners attempted to rescue Evans after he fell into the pit, but the soldiers stopped them by firing warning shots.
The Assembly Member for the area, Hon. Nsiah Kesse, confirmed the death in an interview with OTEC News Reporter Kwame Agyenim Boateng, saying the soldiers’ actions were unacceptable.
“The boys around could have saved him, yet the military stopped them, overseeing his death,” he said.
Hon. Kesse alleged that the military men, who are supervising a reclamation exercise at Manso Nyankomase, have been extorting money from miners in the area. “They usually move from site to site, taking money from both legal and illegal miners, and it sometimes takes a different turn when the miners fail to yield to their demands,” he said.
He added that the situation has caused major tension in the area, calling on authorities to investigate the actions of the military men.
The Assembly Member revealed that the military men arrived in three pickups, and the miners, upon seeing them, fled and ended up in the pit, resulting in Evans’ death.
The incident has sparked outrage in the community, with calls for action against the military personnel involved.
Source: Ghana/otecfmghana.com/Jacob Agyenim Boateng
