Mpatuam, Ashanti Region – September 10, 2025 — The mining town of Mpatuam in the Amansie West District has been plunged into fear and silence following violent clashes between residents and soldiers guarding the Asanko Gold Mine concession. The confrontation claimed the life of Samuel Danquah, Assembly Member for Aboabo, and left two others injured.
According to the Assembly Member for Mpatuam, Ebenezer Opoku, the incident has forced many men to flee the community, leaving behind women and children.
“Schools have closed, businesses have shut down, and the entire town is quiet out of fear. Life has come to a standstill,” he lamented in an interview with Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsem.
How the Clashes Started
Tensions escalated when some young men allegedly dumped the body of a victim at the mine’s premises, accusing soldiers of killing him. As community leaders attempted to calm the situation, soldiers reportedly fired warning shots.
Mr. Opoku said he fled with the Krontihene (sub-chief), but the late Assembly Member stayed behind to engage the crowd. He was struck by bullets when soldiers opened fire.
The victim was rushed to the hospital on a motorbike but was pronounced dead on arrival.
Outrage and Retaliation
News of his death sparked outrage, with angry residents storming the mine and torching vehicles and other properties. Security reinforcement was quickly deployed, and military presence in Mpatuam has since intensified.
Mr. Opoku expressed disappointment over the escalation, insisting that residents and the mine had coexisted peacefully for nearly two decades.
“The local miners have always remained within their zones. We have never intruded on their concession. This could have been avoided if management had engaged the traditional authorities,” he said.
Call for Presidential Intervention
Traditional leaders are reportedly seeking dialogue with Asanko Mine officials, while Assembly Members in the Amansie West District have petitioned the Ashanti Regional Minister, Dr. Frank Amoakohene, over the killings.
Mr. Opoku has also appealed directly to President John Mahama to intervene and order the withdrawal of soldiers to restore calm.
“We are waiting for the president’s response to our petition. There is panic here, and we want peace to return,” he stressed.
For now, Mpatuam remains eerily quiet — a once-bustling mining town now turned into a “ghost town” as its residents await decisive action.
Source – My News Ghana
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