Teenager shot dead in clash at Western Region mine site
By DL News
Published
Updated
1 min read
The incident, which happened on Saturday, 13 December 2025, left Pious Nkansah, also known as Nkrumah, fatally wounded and resulted in extensive damage to company property.
The Western Regional Police Command has opened a full-scale investigation after a 13-year-old boy was shot dead during violent disturbances at a mining concession at Adelekezu, near Dadwen in the Axim District.
The incident, which happened on Saturday, 13 December 2025, left Pious Nkansah, also known as Nkrumah, fatally wounded and resulted in extensive damage to company property.
When officers arrived at the scene, they found two 4×4 SUVs and two tipper trucks completely burnt, while a pickup truck and a Toyota Land Cruiser had also been heavily damaged. Police say some young people from the town are suspected of carrying out the destruction.
Preliminary findings suggest the violence was triggered by a confrontation between youth from Adelekezu and private security guards at the mining site.
The youth are reported to have attempted to enter the company’s concession. During the standoff, they allegedly tried to wrestle a pump-action shotgun from one of the security personnel. In the struggle, the guard is said to have resisted and fired the weapon, striking Pious Nkansah.
The boy was rushed to the Axim Government Hospital, but was pronounced dead on arrival.
News of his death sparked retaliation, with enraged youth returning to the site, setting vehicles ablaze and threatening to lynch workers. Police say they managed to rescue 11 employees from the compound during the chaos.
So far, five suspects have been arrested in connection with the incident:
Gyenyame Owusu, 38
Matthew Asamah, 24
Nana Yaw, 15
Yaw Opoku, 16
Kojo Agyei, 21
They are being held on suspicion of causing harm and unlawful damage.
The Western Regional Police Command has appealed to residents of Adelekezu and surrounding communities to remain calm and support the ongoing inquiry.
In a statement, the Command urged the public to volunteer information that could assist investigators, promising that all those found culpable—whether for the shooting or the subsequent destruction—will be brought before the law.
