A/R: REGSEC begins investigation into alleged shooting of miner by galamsey task force

The Ashanti Regional Security Council has begun investigations into the alleged shooting of a suspected illegal miner in Obuasi.

Chairman of the regional security council Simon Osei Mensah said the investigations became necessary after an emergency REGSEC meeting. 

Kwabena Agyemang, 31, was on Sunday shot dead after the anti-galamsey joint task force under code name Operation Vanguard clashed with some suspected illegal miners in the area. According to the Public Relations Officer of Operation Vanguard, Major Gariba Pabi, at around 17:00 GMT personnel from the Ashanti Region on patrol met stone-pelting illegal miners at Wawasi, a community in Obuasi notorious for galamsey. 

Read: One dead as Operation Vanguard tastes major clash with illegal miners

He said as the task force moved on the illegal miners they fired a gun at the patrol, and in a bid to protect themselves, the team returned fire to disperse the agitated miners.

After the illegal miners had escaped, the task force found that one of the miners had been shot dead.

Speaking to JoyFM, Simon Osei Mensah said the investigation will focus on finding out whether or not it was the fire from the illegal miners that resulted in the death of Kwabena Agyemang or the warning shots fired by the task force.

Read also: Galamsey task force making gains- Col. William Agyapong

He extended his condolences to the family of the deceased and urged residents of the region to go about their normal duties as there is no cause for alarm.