Manso Keniago Clash Death Toll Rises to Six, 15 Injured as Chief Demands Justice Over Disputed Shootings

The death toll from Wednesday's confrontation between residents of Manso Keniago in the Amansie South District and personnel of the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) has risen to six, with 15 others injured. The Domi-Keniago Chief, Nana Obeng Mensah Ababio II, has called for justice and accountability, as NAIMOS and residents offer sharply conflicting accounts of how the shootings unfolded.

The clash erupted over the transportation of excavators seized by the anti-illegal mining task force. According to initial accounts, some residents and traditional authorities objected to plans to drive the equipment through the community on a tarred road, insisting that low-bed trailers should be used instead . The disagreement escalated into a confrontation that left multiple people dead and injured.

Conflicting Accounts

NAIMOS said in a statement that its personnel encountered an armed group attempting to obstruct the movement of the excavators and fired warning shots to deter the crowd. The Secretariat said two of its officers sustained gunshot wounds in the incident . NAIMOS condemned what it described as an act of aggression and warned that attacks on its personnel would not be tolerated .

Residents and traditional authorities have challenged that account. In a statement signed by Krontihene Nana Boateng and Youth Representative Bernard Ntiamoah, the community insisted the excavator was not seized from Manso Keniago but was being transported through the township on a tarred government road. They said the chief and residents questioned the movement over concerns about possible damage to the road .

The community further alleged that one of its chiefs was physically assaulted and that gunshots were fired at his vehicle during the confrontation .

The Assembly Member for the area, Charles Oduro, said a police officer was also hit during attempts to calm the situation. "Even the police came to intervene, to let the NAIMOS people calm down, so that they take the right turn to convey the excavator. But even one police officer was hit by one of the NAIMOS," he said . Oduro earlier reported four deaths and 15 injuries, noting that some victims were from neighbouring communities including Ketanpo .

The circumstances surrounding the shootings have yet to be independently established. Police and hospital authorities had not publicly confirmed the death toll as of Thursday .

Calls for Independent Investigation

The Manso Keniago community has called on President John Dramani Mahama and the Inspector-General of Police to initiate an independent investigation into the incident, provide medical assistance to the injured, and ensure those responsible are held accountable .

The Chief, Nana Obeng Mensah Ababio II, has demanded justice for those killed and accountability over the incident .

Background: NAIMOS and the Galamsey Fight

The National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat was established in June 2025 under the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources as a central coordinating body leading Ghana's fight against illegal mining through intelligence-led, multi-agency operations . The Secretariat brings together the military, police, immigration and intelligence services under a unified command structure.

In a quarterly report presented in March 2026, NAIMOS disclosed that it had conducted 122 operations between July 2025 and March 2026, leading to 237 arrests—including 144 foreign nationals—and the seizure of 94 excavators . The Secretariat acknowledged that threats to personnel remained a major concern, with reported attacks, injuries and even fatalities during operations .

The Manso Keniago incident underscores the tensions that have accompanied the enforcement of anti-galamsey measures in mining communities, where seizures of equipment and arrests have at times met resistance from residents and traditional authorities. NAIMOS has said it remains resolute in its mandate despite acts of intimidation .

As of Thursday, the situation in Manso Keniago remained tense, with the community in what the Chief described as a state of fear, panic and mourning .