A violent confrontation allegedly involving illegal miners, popularly known as galamseyers, has left one person dead and seven others injured, including a chief, at Asawinso “A” in the Bibiani Anhwiaso Bekwai Municipality of the Western North Region.

The deceased has been identified as 36-year-old Kwame Ayisi, who was reportedly shot during the incident.

Speaking on TV3’s Ghana Tonight programme on May 18, 2026, Assembly Member for the Asawinso “A” Electoral Area, Frank Nelson Ackah, disclosed that the incident occurred after the chief of Sefwi Asawinso “A”, Nana Kwasi Ayim II, together with some youth from the community, visited the Afao Hill Forest Reserve to inspect ongoing illegal mining activities in the area.

According to Ackah, the chief and the youth sought to establish who owned the mining site and who had authorised the operations within the forest reserve.

“The chief, according to my investigation, engaged the miners this afternoon to ascertain the ownership of the site and the person who gave them the authority to work in that area,” he stated.

He further explained that while discussions were ongoing at the site, The chief invited persons believed to be owners of the illegal mining concession to continue negotiations at the house.

“However, while the chief was interacting with them, the owners of the site came. The chief requested that they go to the house for negotiation. On their way to the house, they were ambushed. They were ambushed by heavily armed men believed to be associated with the illegal miners,” Ackah revealed.

The attackers reportedly opened fire on the group, causing multiple gunshot injuries.

Victims were rushed to the Anhwiaso Community Hospital, where they are currently receiving treatment.

Ackah confirmed that six other people, including the chief, sustained serious gunshot wounds during the attack.

He indicated that the chief and the youth had only embarked on the visit to assess the extent of destruction caused by illegal mining activities in the Afao Hill Forest Reserve when the shooting occurred.

The incident has heightened concerns over the growing insecurity surrounding illegal mining activities in parts of the country, particularly in forest reserves and mining communities.

Authorities are yet to officially comment on arrests or investigations connected to the attack.

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