Mpatuam tragedy: Assembly member among two killed in clash with soldiers at Asanko mine

A violent incident at Mpatuam in the Amansie West District of the Ashanti Region has claimed two lives, including Sampson Danquah, the Assembly Member for Aboabo Tetekaaso. The deaths occurred on Tuesday after soldiers guarding the Asanko Gold Mine concession opened fire during a confrontation with residents. 

Two other people sustained gunshot injuries.

The disturbances reportedly began when a man spotted inside the concession was shot and killed by the security officers deployed to protect the mine. News of his death quickly spread, prompting enraged residents to mobilise and block the main road leading into the community.

As tempers flared, the situation escalated into a clash. Soldiers fired shots described as warning rounds to disperse the crowd. In the process, Mr. Danquah who had stepped in to calm tensions was fatally struck. Two additional residents were also injured.

According to eyewitnesses, the late Assembly Member had been trying to mediate and restore calm among the residents but was hit by a bullet, leading to his death.

This latest development adds to a history of confrontations between communities in the Manso enclave and military personnel attached to the Asanko concession. Locals have consistently complained of harassment, intimidation, and abuse, which they say has created an atmosphere of fear and eroded trust between the company and its host communities.

The Member of Parliament for Manso Nkwanta, Tweneboa Kodua Fokuo, has strongly condemned the shootings and called for an independent public inquiry into the deployment and conduct of the soldiers involved.

In a statement issued Tuesday, he urged the Ministry of Defence and the Ghana Armed Forces to take decisive action. 

“The Ministry of Defence and the Ghana Armed Forces must take disciplinary and criminal action against the officers directly responsible for the shootings,” he said. “Furthermore, they must conduct a thorough review of their deployment policy to prevent the military from being used as an instrument of corporate intimidation.”

He further appealed to the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources and the Minerals Commission to investigate the role of Asanko Mines in the matter, including whether the company sanctioned or facilitated the use of force, and to reassess its social responsibility and community relations.

Mr. Fokuo also called on the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) to independently investigate alleged violations suffered by the residents and issue binding recommendations for redress, including compensation for the families of the deceased.

The MP demanded the immediate withdrawal of all soldiers operating at Asanko Mines until investigations are concluded. He also called for full compensation and formal recognition for the families of the victims, emphasising the sacrifice of an Assembly Member who had served his community with dedication.

In addition, he urged that psychosocial support be extended to bereaved families and traumatised residents.