3 dead following clash between Tontokrom residents and Asanko Mines Security

Three persons have died following a clash between residents of Manso Tontokrom in the Ashanti region and private security personnel of Asanko Gold Mines Limited.

The clash which occurred on Saturday, March 2, 2024, reportedly started when the security personnel fired gunshots leading to the death of one of the residents who trespassed the company’s mining site.

In retaliation, the residents attacked the Asanko Mines security and lynched two of them.

The angry residents also left another security officer severely injured.

“We saw two branded Asanko Mines vehicles and four non-branded ones occupied by machomen in the community. Some of the youth went closer to the vehicles to hoot at the occupants and before we realized the machomen had started firing gunshots. One person was hit by a stray bullet and died on the spot.

“We were left with no choice but to also attack them. The vehicles sped off but two machomen fell on the ground. They were lynched,” one of the locals narrated.

The residents had earlier staged a protest to demand an establishment of community mining in Tontokrom to provide jobs for the unemployed youth.

They accused the mining firm, Asanko Mines of attempting to take over a mining concession belonging to them.

However, the company refuted the claims saying the community mining approval has not been granted by the government because the site the residents are aiming at falls within their operational area.