Manso Keniago–NAIMOS Clash Leaves Four Dead, 15 Injured – Assembly Member

Story by: Regina Bless

Four people have reportedly lost their lives, while 15 others have sustained injuries following a confrontation between residents of Manso Keniago in the Amansie South District of the Ashanti Region and personnel of the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS).

The casualty figures were disclosed by the area’s Assembly Member, Charles Oduro, who attributed the deaths and injuries to a dispute over the transportation of excavators seized during an anti-illegal mining operation.

According to Mr Oduro, the disagreement began when some residents and traditional authorities objected to the excavators being driven through the community. They reportedly wanted the machinery transported on low-bed trailers to prevent possible damage to the roads.

He explained that the disagreement subsequently escalated into gunfire, resulting in four deaths and injuries to 15 people.

The victims are said to be from Manso Keniago and neighbouring communities, including Ketanpo.

Mr Oduro disclosed the figures while visiting some of the injured persons receiving medical attention at St Martin’s Hospital, describing the incident as distressing.

He further revealed that a police officer was also hit during efforts by the Police to restore calm and de-escalate the situation.

According to him, a police inspector was among those who intervened and attempted to persuade the NAIMOS personnel to change their route while transporting the excavator.

The Assembly Member, however, said he had not personally witnessed any NAIMOS personnel receiving injuries during the confrontation, although the Secretariat had earlier reported that two of its officers sustained gunshot wounds.

NAIMOS had explained that its task force encountered an armed group attempting to prevent the movement of the seized excavators to a designated location for safekeeping.

The Secretariat said its personnel fired warning shots to prevent the situation from escalating further, but two officers were subsequently injured by gunfire.

The latest account from the Assembly Member provides a different picture of the confrontation, which has raised concerns about the use of firearms during anti-illegal mining operations.

However, the reported figures of four deaths and 15 injuries have not yet been independently confirmed, and the full circumstances surrounding the incident remain unclear.