One person reported dead in a violence clash between two illegal mining (galamsey) gangs at Bonsaso near Tarkwa in the Western Region.
As a result of the confrontation, several people have been injured.
According to reports, the two fighting parties had been tense for some time, which caused them to take to the streets on Wednesday evening to fight near the abandoned Bonsaso Tollbooth.
Chief Superintendent George Andrew Kuma, the Tarkwa Divisional Police Commander confirmed the incident to the media.
A broadcast journalist with Space FM in Prestea, Nana Esi Bremoni narrated how the incident happened.
“What actually transpired is that these two gangs have been at logger heads for years, with threats that there will be a fight if they meet. So yesterday they met, and it was a free-for-all fight which involved machetes. One of the guys was shot. The others continued fighting with the machetes. The one who was shot was bleeding profusely and later, he died and was taken to the Tarkwa Municipal Hospital.”
“The leader of one of the gangs and five others were rushed to the hospital. I am told that one of them has been transferred to the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital due to his critical condition. So those at the
The Head of Emergency Team at the Tarkwa Apinto Government Hospital, Dr. Joseph Darko, also gave further details.
“The incident resulted in one fatality after one of them suffered a stab wound in the abdomen resulting in the exposure of his valve. One other person was seriously injured after he had a very deep cut showing the skull bone. One of his hands is almost severed, and he has been referred to Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital. We have quite a number of them that are still at the hospital“, he said.
It is alleged that the two rival galamsey groups have for some time now been fighting over a mining site which has recently been inaugurated as a Community Mining site by the Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, George Mireku Duker.
