- Two people, including an Assembly Member, have died in clashes between Mpatuam residents and military officers.
- The confrontations occurred on September 8 and 9 near a mining concession owned by Asanko Gold.
- Residents reportedly entered the site, prompting a military response that turned violent.
- Vehicles were burned and roads blocked as tensions escalated.
- The incident has sparked renewed calls for accountability and reform in mining-community relations.
Tensions have erupted in the Amansie West District of the Ashanti Region, where two people — including a local Assembly Member — have died following violent clashes between residents of Mpatuam and military officers. The confrontations, which occurred on Monday, September 8, and Tuesday, September 9, have left the community shaken and demanding answers.
The unrest reportedly began when residents entered a mining concession owned by Asanko Gold. Military personnel were deployed to respond, sparking a confrontation that led to the first fatality on Monday. The situation escalated the following day when soldiers returned, resulting in the death of an Assembly Member and injuries to others.
Eyewitness accounts and local leaders suggest that the clashes were fueled by long-standing frustrations over land control, mining rights, and perceived aggression by security forces. Vehicles were reportedly set ablaze, and road blockades were erected by angry youth demanding justice.
The incident has reignited calls for government intervention, transparency in mining operations, and a reevaluation of how security forces engage with civilian populations in contested zones. For residents of Mpatuam, the past two days have been marked by grief, anger, and growing distrust.
