Galamsey Protest Ends in Tragedy as Two Are Allegedly Shot Dead in Abosso
The death of two people in a Galamsey protest at Abosso near Tarkwa in the Western Region
Hilda Appiah
Two people have reportedly been killed following a confrontation between protesters and the police during a demonstration against illegal mining activities at Abosso, near Tarkwa in the Western Region.
The incident occurred when residents took to the streets to protest what they described as the alleged takeover of a local galamsey site by foreign nationals. The demonstration, which initially began peacefully, later escalated after security personnel were deployed to control the crowd.
Eyewitnesses say police officers fired warning shots in an attempt to disperse the protesters. Amid the chaos, two individuals were allegedly hit by live ammunition and later pronounced dead. Their bodies have since been conveyed to the Tarkwa Government Hospital morgue.
A Deputy Director of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) for the Prestea-Huni Valley Municipality, who claimed to have been present at the scene, confirmed the deaths and said tensions remained high in the area shortly after the incident. Some residents reportedly blocked sections of the road following the shooting.
The police are yet to officially confirm the circumstances surrounding the deaths. However, the Western Central Regional Police Command is expected to commence investigations to establish the facts and determine whether police actions followed operational procedures.
Illegal mining continues to be a major source of tension in several mining communities, often resulting in clashes between residents, security agencies, and mining operators.
