Anti-Galamsey Task Force Nabs Assemblyman, 3 Others in Violent Confrontation
Ashanti Region, Ghana – 14 August, 2025 – Four individuals, including Bonteso Assemblyman Patrick Asare, have been apprehended by the Special Anti-Galamsey Task Force for their alleged roles in a violent altercation with law enforcement officers in Amansie South, Ashanti Region.
The clash occurred on Wednesday, August 13, 2025, when the task force conducted a routine patrol and encountered resistance from the assemblyman and his cohorts. The incident highlights the ongoing challenges faced by authorities in tackling illegal mining activities in Ghana.
According to police reports, the task force intercepted an excavator actively engaged in illegal mining and attempted to seize the machine. However, the assemblyman allegedly mobilized a group of miners to resist the operation, leading to a violent clash. The suspects, identified as Akwesi Amponsah, Osei Vasco, and Owusu Alexander, were arrested alongside the assemblyman.
The situation escalated when the miners pelted stones and other objects at the officers, issued threats, and attempted to block the removal of the excavator. Two police officers, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Bawah Abdul Jalil and General Sergeant Agblekpe Mawuena Yao, were injured during the altercation.
The police responded with "appropriate force" to disperse the crowd and secure the excavator.
Meanwhile,the Police hierarchy has reiterated its commitment to protecting the country's natural resources and restoring environmental integrity.
The recent crackdown on galamsey activities in the Ashanti Region has led to the arrest of several individuals, including foreign nationals, and the seizure of mining equipment. The government faces mounting pressure to ensure that the momentum generated by these arrests does not wane.
Source – Lead News Online
