One person has been confirmed dead with three others injured following a clash between suspected illegal miners and the Ghana Police Service at Bepotenten in the Amansie Central District of the Ashanti Region.
Reports suggest the incident occurred on Saturday, January 24, 2026, during the Ghana Police Officers’ routine patrol.
According to the information gathered, the police patrol team seized a firearm belonging to the illegal miners, which led to the wild confrontation.
In the viral video shared by Asaase Radio on Facebook, the escalated confrontation resulted in one police officer firing warning shots in the air, but another Police officer fired at the illegal miners as they attempted to bolt from the scene, which resulted in fatality and three injuries.
For now, the Amansie Central District Security Council (DISEC) has ordered an investigation into the incident.
In related news, One officer of the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) was shot during an anti-galamsey operation.
According to the Lands Ministry, the NAIMOS officer was shot during a routine anti-galamsey operation in the Bono Region on Tuesday, January 20, 2026.
The gun battle is said to have occurred along the Subinkurom-Kyeremasu stretch in the Dormaa Central Municipality.
The NAIMOS officer was hit in the thigh and was immediately taken to St. Matthew Catholic Hospital at Ampenkuro, one assailant identified as Abuu Ibrahim, was shot and later pronounced dead on arrival at the same hospital.
The Lands Ministry on Tuesday, January 20, NAIMOS in a statement issued, stated, “The National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) wishes to inform the public that earlier today, Tuesday, 20th January 2026, a member of its task force was shot in the thigh by armed assailants during a routine anti-galamsey operation.
The incident occurred in a bush along the Subinkurom-Kyeremasu stretch in the Dormaa Central Municipality of the Bono Region.
The armed thugs, who were hiding in the bushes, opened fire on sighting the NAIMOS task force. This led to an exchange of gunfire, during which one NAIMOS personnel sustained a gunshot injury.
The injured officer was swiftly rushed to the St. Matthew Catholic Hospital at Ampenkuro, where he is currently responding to treatment.
Also, one of the assailants who opened fire on the NAIMOS task force was shot dead during the exchanges. The deceased, identified as Abuu Ibrahim, was pronounced dead on arrival at the St. Matthew Catholic Hospital.
NAIMOS wishes to assure that despite the persistent attacks and disruptions, it remains committed to fighting the scourge of illegal mining and urges all stakeholders to continue with support for its operations”.
Meanwhile, the attacks come at a time when President John Dramani Mahama has praised the works of the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS), the Environmental Protection Agency and the River guards for their continuous fight against illegal mining commonly known as galamsey.
Watch the video below: