The palace of the chief of Tarkwa Nsuaem has been burnt down by irate Galamsey operators (small scale miners) in the early hours of Friday.

Mr Paul Evans Aidoo, Western Region Minister who made this known to journalists in Takoradi said the operators were said to be operating illegally in a mining concession allotted to the chief (name withheld) and many attempts to stop them had failed.

The Minister said a scuffle ensued between the two parties compelling the chief to engage the services of “macho men” who were attacked with some of them having their hands severed.

Ms Christiana Cobbinah, Municipal Chief Executive, who could not handle the situation sought the assistance of the Regional Security Council, which deployed security personnel to Nsuaem to bring the situation under control.