Illegal miner found dead in suspected suicide at Ahafo Mim amid ritual allegations
An illegal miner identified only as A.T. has allegedly taken his own life at Ahafo Mim in the Asunafo North Municipality of the Ahafo Region.
His body was discovered hanging in a bathroom on Monday, June 29, 2026, at about 6:00 p.m., after his sister returned home from the farm.
He was found with a rope tied around his neck and fastened to the roof of the room, wearing only boxer shorts.
The Assembly Member’s Committee Chairman for the area, Hon. Felix Owusu, said residents were shocked by the incident, which has sparked widespread speculation in the community.
According to him, the deceased’s sister raised the alarm after making the grim discovery, leading to the arrival of police officers at the scene.
The body was later conveyed to the Mim Government Hospital by the Mim Divisional Police for preservation and further examination.
Hon. Owusu told Otec News that there were reports circulating within the community that the deceased and some of his colleagues had allegedly sought the services of an unidentified fetish priest in an attempt to boost their gold prospecting activities.
“The information going around is that A.T. and his friends consulted a fetish priest to help them find more gold. The priest allegedly told them that one of them would have to be sacrificed for the rituals to succeed, and they reportedly agreed,” he said.
He further claimed that, a few days after the alleged consultation, A.T.’s behaviour changed noticeably, raising concern among family members and residents.
“People in the community started saying he was behaving strangely and appeared to have lost his sanity. At times, he even threatened to kill his own mother,” Hon. Owusu stated, adding that the developments had left many residents unsettled.
The Mim Divisional Police have since commenced investigations into the circumstances surrounding the death.
Authorities are yet to establish whether the reported ritual claims have any connection to the incident, while residents have been urged to remain calm.
The incident has sparked concern in Ahafo Mim, with community leaders urging residents to be cautious of illegal mining practices linked to occult activities.
Source: Ghana/otecfmghana.com/Francis Appiah
