Tension Erupts in Manso Mpatasie as Residents Clash with Security Taskforce Over Alleged Excavator Seizures

By: Abdul Basit Suleman

A clash between residents of Manso Mpatasie in the Amansie South District of the Ashanti region and a national security taskforce has left one person injured and hospitalized at the St. Martin Catholic Hospital in Agroyesum. The violent confrontation stems from a government operation to seize excavators suspected to have been used in illegal mining, also known as “galamsey.”

According to eyewitness accounts, the clash began when security officers stormed parts of the community in an attempt to retrieve excavators believed to be linked to unauthorized mining activities. However, the machines were reportedly parked in residential compounds and other non-mining areas, prompting outrage among local residents and small-scale miners who claimed the move was unjustified.

Kwaku Bobie, convener for the aggrieved residents, described the taskforce’s operation as an overreach of power, arguing that the excavators were not being operated on active mining sites at the time of the raid. “We see this as harassment,” he said. “If the machines were not on mining concessions, why should they be forcibly removed from people’s homes?”

Residents, many of whom rely on small-scale mining for their livelihoods, say they feel unfairly targeted and demand that due process be followed in the government’s fight against illegal mining. The protestors accused the security team of instigating fear and unrest in a community already grappling with economic hardship.

Local political representatives have also weighed in on the matter. George Acheampong, Assembly Member for the Manso Mpatasie Electoral Area, expressed concern over the implications of the taskforce’s actions. “While we support the fight against illegal mining, storming homes and attacking individuals in their residences could undermine trust in state institutions,” he said. Acheampong warned that such approaches could derail efforts to foster cooperation between mining communities and the government.

Some of the aggrieved youth used the occasion to appeal directly to President John Dramani Mahama and the current NDC government. They called for alternative job opportunities and sustainable policies to support local mining operations. “The youth are ready to work, but we need clear guidelines and support structures to do legal mining and earn a decent living,” one of them said.

The latest development adds to the ongoing national debate over the most effective way to address illegal mining in Ghana. While the government has maintained that strong enforcement is necessary to protect the environment and water bodies, affected communities argue for a more human-centered and inclusive approach that respects their rights and livelihoods.

Security forces are yet to release an official statement on the incident. Meanwhile, calm has returned to the area, but tensions remain high as residents demand answers and accountability.