A scuffle between illegal miners in Patakro, a community in the Amenfi West Municipality of the Western Region, has resulted in the death of one person, with another sustaining severe injuries.
The deceased, a 25-year-old, is said to have first inflicted machete wounds on another resident during the misunderstanding.
It is reported that the deceased and his three colleagues were sharing proceeds from what they got from gold sales when the suspect, in his 30s, responded by labelling open money sharing as “primitive”.
He followed this with derogatory remarks.
His comments triggered a heavy slap from the deceased, and this started the misunderstanding.
Following that, friends of the person who sustained the machete wounds retaliated with vengeance, which resulted in the demise of the deceased illegal miner.
The incident occurred on Saturday, August 10, 2024.
Meanwhile, the suspect is currently receiving treatment under police guard at the Samatex Hospital in Samraboi, while the body of the deceased has been deposited at the mortuary in the same hospital.
Such deadly fights are a common feature in most mining communities in Amenfi West, with some going unreported for authorities to act.
Residents at Patakro, Asuohyiam, Adiemra, and adjoining communities say they are unsafe in these communities.