One Dead, At Least Six Injured After Shooting Linked to Illegal Mining in Western North

One person has died and at least six others, including a local chief, were injured after armed men allegedly opened fire during a visit to an illegal mining site in Ghana’s Western North Region, according to community leaders and local authorities.

SEFWI ASAWINSO, Ghana —

One person has died and at least six others, including a local chief, were injured after armed men allegedly opened fire during a visit to an illegal mining site near the Afafo Hill Forest Reserve in Ghana’s Western North Region. Authorities and local media reports gave differing casualty figures but confirmed that at least one person was killed and multiple others sustained gunshot wounds during the incident. The shooting occurred at Asawinso “A” in the Bibiani Anhwiaso Bekwai Municipality, where illegal mining activities, widely known in Ghana as galamsey, have increasingly raised environmental and security concerns. Community leaders said the victims were attacked after a group led by Nana Kwasi Ayim III, chief of Sefwi Asawinso “A”, visited the forest enclave to assess alleged destruction caused by individuals believed to be connected to illegal mining activities in the reserve.

Chief says group was ambushed after forest reserve visit

According to Nana Kwasi Ayim III, the visit formed part of ongoing efforts by traditional authorities to engage people operating within the forest reserve and appeal for mining activities there to stop. The chief said he and several youth members had gone to inspect the scale of environmental damage allegedly caused by mining operations in the area.

“We went there to engage the illegal miners in a peaceful discussion and appealed to them to stop the illegal mining activities, but while we were returning from the site, we were ambushed,” the chief said, according to eyewitness accounts cited by local media. Authorities said the group came under gunfire while leaving the forest reserve. Kwame Ayisie, 36, later died from gunshot wounds, while the injured victims, including the chief, were taken to Anhwiaso Community Hospital for treatment. Police have not publicly commented in detail on the motive behind the attack, but local authorities said investigations were ongoing and one suspect had been arrested.

Authorities confirm arrest as investigations continue

A delegation involving the Municipal Chief Executive for Bibiani Anhwiaso Bekwai, police officials and representatives of the Anhwiaso Traditional Council later visited injured victims and bereaved relatives. Officials assured residents that those responsible would be prosecuted. Frank Nelson Ackah, Assembly Member for the Asawinso “A” Electoral Area, confirmed the incident and said the group had only gone to inspect alleged destruction linked to illegal mining before the shooting occurred. According to him, the attack happened as the group returned from the forest reserve. Residents and traditional leaders in the area say fear has been growing following the attack, particularly among individuals who publicly oppose illegal mining activities.

Illegal mining violence raises national security concerns

The incident has renewed concerns over violence linked to illegal mining operations in parts of Ghana’s Western North Region, where forest reserves and farming communities have increasingly come under pressure from unauthorised mining activities. Illegal mining activities have for years contributed to severe environmental degradation in parts of Ghana, including pollution of rivers, destruction of protected forest reserves and loss of agricultural land.

Ghanaian authorities have repeatedly launched military-backed operations against illegal mining, though enforcement efforts have struggled to fully contain the activity in some regions. Communities including Sefwi Chine, Ntakam, Aboabo, Asawinso and Nketiaso have been identified by local authorities as among the areas heavily affected by galamsey activities. Community leaders have appealed for increased police and security deployments in illegal mining hotspots across the municipality. Investigations into the shooting were continuing on Wednesday as security agencies increased operations in illegal mining areas across the municipality.

Sources: GNA.