Tensions have reached a boiling point in the Amansie West District as assembly members petitioned the District Chief Executive, Hon. Prince Manu Morris, following a string of violent confrontations with Asanko Gold Mining Company, culminating in the shocking killing of assembly member Hon. Patrick Danquah by military personnel attached to the company.
The petition, marked by urgency and outrage, calls on the DCE to escalate the matter to the Ashanti Regional Minister, President John Dramani Mahama, and His Royal Majesty Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, emphasizing that the safety of assembly members and the broader community is under immediate threat.
The Presiding Member of the Assembly, Hon. Antwi Amponsah, described the murder of Hon. Danquah as a “shocking and unacceptable development” that has left assembly members living in constant fear. He warned that without swift intervention, the situation could escalate into widespread unrest between the mining company and local communities.
The petition also brings to light the detention of Hon. Patrick Boamah, another assembly member, who was reportedly arrested and held without charges. Assembly members decried this as blatant harassment and a violation of their rights, further intensifying the climate of insecurity.
Responding to the urgent petition, Hon. Prince Manu Morris assured the assembly members that he would forward their grievances to the highest levels of government and traditional authority. He reiterated that the local government is committed to protecting assembly members, restoring peace, and ensuring justice for those affected.
The ongoing confrontations underscore the fragile relationship between mining operations and local communities in Amansie West. Assembly members are demanding immediate protective measures, accountability for the violent acts, and intervention from both governmental and traditional authorities to prevent further bloodshed.
