Residents of Manso Akwasiso in the Amansie South District of the Ashanti Region have staged a demonstration to protest the death of a 20-year-old senior high school student during a military operation against illegal mining activities in the area.
The deceased, Evans Alotey, was a second-year student of Okomfo Anokye Senior High School. He was reportedly confirmed dead on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, after allegedly falling into a galamsey pit while fleeing from military personnel who had stormed the area during an anti-galamsey operation.
According to accounts from residents and eyewitnesses, the military personnel were supervising a land reclamation exercise at nearby Manso Nyankomase when they attempted to disperse suspected illegal miners. Residents alleged that live ammunition was fired during the operation, creating panic and forcing miners to flee for safety.
Reports indicate that Evans fell into a deep mining pit in the course of the chase. Colleague miners reportedly attempted to rescue him immediately but were unable to do so. They alleged that warning shots were fired, preventing them from approaching the pit in time to save him.
The demonstration brought together youth, opinion leaders, the Assembly Member for the area, Hon. Nsiah Kesse, and the Chief of Akwasiso, Nana Kwakye Gyimah Yeboah II, all of whom demanded justice and a thorough investigation into the incident.
Addressing the gathering, Nana Kwakye Gyimah Yeboah II expressed deep concern over the circumstances leading to the student’s death. He appealed to the government, the Inspector-General of Police, the Minister for the Interior, and the District Chief Executive for Amansie South, Hon. Benjamin Marfo, to intervene and restore calm in the community. The chief called for a transparent and impartial investigation and urged authorities to ensure that operations aimed at combating illegal mining do not endanger innocent lives. He also demanded government action to stop what he described as persistent harassment, brutalities, and extortion of money from residents by military personnel in the area.
On his part, Hon. Nsiah Kesse described the incident as unfortunate and disturbing. He stressed that the young men in the area could have assisted in rescuing Evans but were unable to act due to the situation at the time. The Assembly Member further raised concerns about ongoing harassment and intimidation of residents by some military personnel deployed to the area and called for accountability where necessary.
As part of their protest, demonstrators blocked major streets in Manso Akwasiso and burnt tyres to register their displeasure over what they described as rampant military brutalities and extortion in the community. Many of the demonstrators, dressed in red and black, carried placards and chanted slogans demanding justice for Evans Alotey.
The protest remained largely peaceful, although tension continues to simmer as residents await an official response from the Ghana Armed Forces and other relevant authorities. Community members have appealed to the government to intervene urgently to prevent further loss of life and to ensure that security operations in the area are conducted lawfully and with due regard for human safety.
