Three people have reportedly been shot dead following a violent clash between personnel of the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) and residents of Manso Kaniago, also known as Dome Keniago, in the Amansie South District of the Ashanti Region.
The incident, which occurred on Wednesday, reportedly broke out after some residents and suspected illegal miners attempted to prevent NAIMOS personnel from seizing excavators in the community.
Reports indicate that tensions escalated after the task force came under attack from an armed group, resulting in the deaths of three people and injuries to several civilians.
Reports suggest two NAIMOS officers sustained gunshot wounds, while another person is said to have undergone an amputation following the incident.
An eyewitness who spoke to OTEC News reporter Kwame Agyenim Boateng said the confrontation began after the military personnel seized an excavator and attempted to move it along a tarred road.
“The military men, after seizing the excavator, were moving it on the tarred road, a process that could destroy the roads, so some chiefs and residents asked them to rather transport the excavator with a low-bed machine,” the eyewitness said.
According to the eyewitness, the suggestion was rejected by the officers, leading to an exchange of words that eventually escalated into gunfire.
“The suggestion did not sit well with the military men, leading to altercations. The military men started firing warning shots.”
“Several others caught bullets, with two dying in the process,” the eyewitness added.
The Assembly Member for the area, Hon. Charles Oduro, also confirmed that gunshots were fired multiple times during the confrontation but said he could not independently verify the number of casualties.
He disclosed that the intensity of the gunfire had prevented him from leaving his home for fear of being caught in the violence.
“They were firing guns indiscriminately, and so going out was very risky,” Hon. Oduro said.
“My people had called me telling me about the deaths and injuries, but I am yet to go out to confirm.”
He added that the incident had thrown the community into confusion, forcing several residents to flee their homes to protect their lives.
Meanwhile, NAIMOS has confirmed that two of its personnel have sustained gunshot wounds following a confrontation with an armed mob during an anti-illegal mining operation at Manso Keniago in the Ashanti Region.
The incident occurred as the task force transported seized excavators to a designated location.
Earlier, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, the Lands Minister, has told NAIMOS officials tasked with fighting illegal mining commonly known as galamsey to defend themselves, no matter what it takes.
The Lands Minister told NAIMOS officials that should anybody decide to stand in their way, they have every right to defend themselves.
Kofi Buah made this known while acknowledging that individuals involved in illegal mining are dangerous and would not hesitate to cause harm to security officials.
According to the Lands Minister, NAIMOS officials should not hesitate to defend themselves, regardless of the circumstances in their fight against illegal mining.
Speaking in a video shared on Metro TV, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah stated, “You saw how dangerous some of these folks are, and let me commend our patriotic soldiers. You have my complete instruction: you have every right to defend yourself. If anybody decides that they will stand in your way, you have every right to defend yourself”.
“But we will win this fight because our children and the next generation must live. And we have a responsibility to live in this protected forest that gives us air, that gives us water for the next generation. We are not stopping. We are coming to get you wherever you are hiding in the deepest forest.
“Because we are determined to protect our forest. We are determined to protect the source of our water. We are determined to protect the source of our health, our environment. This is a fight for every well-meaning Ghanaian. It’s a fight for our lifetime. And we will win.”
See the post below:
3News sources report that three people have been shot dead during a National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) operation against illegal mining in Manso Kaniago, located in the Ashanti Region. #3NewsGH https://t.co/8JgEY0uA9F
— #3NewsGH (@3NewsGH) November 11, 2026
Two NAIMOS personnel sustain gunshot wounds following a confrontation with an armed mob during an anti-illegal mining operation at Manso Keniago in the Ashanti Region. The incident occurred as the task force transported seized excavators to a designated location. #3NewsGH https://t.co/QdVQRhfLue
— #3NewsGH (@3NewsGH) November 11, 2026
