A Chinese national and his Ghanaian driver have been shot and killed at an illegal mining site in Subri-Nkwanta, a community within the Bibiani-Anhwiaso-Bekwai Municipality of the Western North Region.
The fatal incident, believed to be a targeted robbery, occurred as the two victims were reportedly returning from a mining operation with gold concentrate, locally known as “black.” Eyewitnesses say unknown assailants opened fire without warning, killing both men on the spot before fleeing into a nearby forest.
The victims are yet to be officially identified by police.
According to local sources, the area has become increasingly volatile due to growing rivalry among illegal mining operators and disputes over access to mining lands. Some residents suspect the shooting may be connected to these tensions rather than being a random act of robbery.
“We keep hearing gunshots every now and then. It’s becoming too dangerous to even live here,” a concerned resident told reporters.
Police have launched an investigation and are currently treating the case as a suspected robbery. The bodies of the deceased have been transported to the morgue for autopsy.
The violent attack has heightened fear and insecurity among residents of Subri-Nkwanta, a community already grappling with the effects of unregulated mining activity.
Community leaders have issued urgent appeals to the Municipal Security Council (MUSEC) and regional authorities, calling for immediate intervention to restore peace and order. They are also demanding an increased police presence and swift action from the Ghana Police Service to bring the perpetrators to justice.
The Bibiani-Anhwiaso-Bekwai Municipality has long been identified as a hotspot for illegal mining, or galamsey, with associated crimes and environmental degradation becoming a growing concern in recent years.
This latest incident highlights the dangerous consequences of Ghana’s ongoing struggle to regulate artisanal and illegal mining operations, and the rising toll it continues to take on lives and communities.
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