Assemblyman, Three Others Arrested Over Galamsey Clashes in Amansie South
the Assemblyman for Bonteso, Patrick Asare, and three others have been arrested for allegedly inciting violence against law enforcement officers during an anti-galamsey operation.
In a dramatic escalation of tensions surrounding illegal mining in Ghana’s Ashanti Region, the Assemblyman for Bonteso, Patrick Asare, and three others have been arrested for allegedly inciting violence against law enforcement officers during an anti-galamsey operation.
On August 13, the Special Anti-Galamsey Task Force intercepted an excavator actively engaged in illegal mining during a routine patrol in Amansie South. As officers prepared to transport the equipment, they were reportedly confronted by a group of miners led by Assemblyman Asare.
According to police accounts, the crowd hurled stones and issued threats, blocking all exit routes in an attempt to trap the officers. Two individuals were seen firing pump-action guns at the task force, prompting a defensive response from the team. “They openly dared the police not to move the excavator,” one officer stated.
Two officers—ASP Bawah Abdul Jalil and G/Sgt. Agblekpe Mawuena Yao—sustained injuries during the confrontation. Despite the hostility, the task force maintained what authorities described as “professional conduct” and succeeded in arresting four individuals:
Patrick Asare (Assemblyman for Bonteso)
Akwesi Amponsah
Osei Vasco
Owusu Alexander
The suspects are expected to be transferred to Accra for prosecution.
This incident highlights the volatile intersection of local politics, community interests, and environmental enforcement. The alleged involvement of a public official in obstructing anti-galamsey efforts raises serious questions about governance, accountability, and the rule of law in mining regions.
