Four arrested, two police officers injured in violent anti-galamsey clash at Bonteso
By DL News
Published
1 min read
The confrontation erupted after the team intercepted the machine and began loading it onto a truck. Police say local Assembly Member Patrick Asare allegedly incited a group of miners to resist, leading to a barrage of stones and threats aga...
A routine patrol by the Special Anti-Galamsey Task Force in Bonteso, Amansie South District, turned violent on Tuesday, August 13, 2025, when officers attempted to seize an excavator engaged in illegal mining.
The confrontation erupted after the team intercepted the machine and began loading it onto a truck. Police say local Assembly Member Patrick Asare allegedly incited a group of miners to resist, leading to a barrage of stones and threats against officers.
The standoff escalated when two individuals were seen firing pump-action shotguns to intimidate the task force. ASP Bawah Abdul Jalil and G/Sgt. Agblekpe Mawuena Yao sustained injuries to the head, mouth, and leg during the melee.
According to authorities, the miners blocked all exit routes, trapping the officers. Under live fire, the task force used what they described as “appropriate force” to break through and secure an exit.
Four suspects—Akwasi Amponsah, Osei Vasco, Patrick Asare, and Alexander Owusu—were arrested. One excavator was impounded, but a second was abandoned due to the mounting threat.
The suspects remain in custody and will be transferred to Accra for further investigation and prosecution. Police say operations to curb illegal mining in the area will continue.
