Several miners hailing from Akyem Potrase find themselves hospitalized at the Kyebi Government Hospital following a confrontation with the Okyeman task force on Monday.
The incident has exacerbated tensions within the mining community.
The altercation erupted on Monday afternoon as the Okyeman task force encountered resistance from local miners while carrying out enforcement duties. Matters escalated when the miners barricaded entry to the community using logs of wood.
According to Chief of Potrase Nana Ansah Sasraku, individuals injured in the clash are undergoing treatment for severe gunshot wounds. Nana Ansah Sasraku expressed dismay over ongoing illegal mining activities in the area, despite numerous efforts to curtail them.
The conflict has resulted in the arrest of four suspects who are currently detained at the Kyebi Police division pending further investigation, as confirmed by the leader of the Okyeman task force, Baffour Asiedu Bekoe.
The incident underscores the persistent challenges posed by irresponsible and unlawful mining practices in the Eastern Region, which continue to degrade farmlands and water bodies.
Seth Kwame Acheampong, the Regional Security Council Coordinator, has pledged to seek a sustainable resolution to the recurring conflicts between the involved parties.
