The chiefs and people of Akwasiso in the Amansie South District of the Ashanti Region have called for an independent, transparent and impartial investigation into the death of a 20-year-old student during a military operation in the area.
Master Evans Allotey, a second-year student of Komfo Anokye Senior High School at Wiamoase, reportedly fell into a mining pit while fleeing from military officers during an anti-galamsey operation at Akwasiso on Tuesday, February 17, 2026.
His death has since sparked widespread protests across communities within the district.
Speaking to journalists, Nana Kwakye Gyimah Yeboah II, Chief of Akwasiso, expressed deep concern about the circumstances surrounding the incident and called for immediate government intervention to restore calm.
He appealed to the government, the Inspector-General of Police, the Minister for the Interior, and the District Chief Executive for Amansie South, Mr Benjamin Marfo, to work together to help address tensions in the community.
The chief further urged the authorities to ensure a thorough and impartial probe and to institute measures to prevent a recurrence, stressing that efforts to clamp down on illegal mining must not endanger innocent lives.
Nana Gyimah Yeboah also called on the government to address what he described as persistent military harassment and assaults on residents.
Reports from the area indicated that soldiers supervising a land reclamation exercise at nearby Manso Nyankomase had moved in to disperse suspected illegal miners.
Residents claimed live ammunition was fired during the exercise, resulting in panic and forcing miners to flee.
During the chaos, Evans is said to have fallen into a deep mining pit. Attempts by his colleagues to rescue him reportedly failed after warning shots from the soldiers prevented them from getting close.
Mr Nsiah Kesse, Assembly Member for Akwasiso, described the student’s death as tragic and disturbing, calling for a thorough and independent inquiry into the circumstances leading to the incident.
He said some young men who were nearby could have saved the student but were unable to intervene due to the tense situation.
Mr Kesse also raised concerns about alleged harassment and intimidation of residents by some military personnel deployed to the area, urging government and security authorities to investigate the claims and ensure accountability.
Some aggrieved residents also appealed to the government to intervene, expressing fear over what they described as frequent military operations in the community.
They demanded justice for the deceased and urged authorities to balance the fight against illegal mining with the need to protect innocent lives.
