Nana Adjei Moses, the Krontohene (Chief) of Wassa Berekum in the Amenfi West District of the Western Region, has been hospitalized following alleged brutal treatment at the hands of a para-military team engaged in combating illegal mining (galamsey) in the area. The incident reportedly occurred a few days ago, with the chief sustaining injuries from individuals believed to be part of an anti-galamsey task force.
According to Nana Adjei Moses, the motivation for his actions stemmed from the dilapidated condition of schools and a bridge within his community. To address these issues, he and members of his community sought to hire a machine to extract sand for reconstruction efforts. However, their efforts were allegedly interrupted by the suspected anti-galamsey task force, who reportedly attacked and brutalized them before detaining the chief in a cell.
Nana Adjei Moses asserts that the actions of these individuals constitute a violation of their fundamental rights. He is calling for a thorough investigation into the incident and demanding that sanctions be imposed on those responsible for the alleged assault.
Sulemana Azure, the Presiding Member of the Amenfi West Assembly, has voiced his disappointment in the suspected task force for their actions against the community members, particularly given their intention to contribute to the betterment of their community. He emphasized that the group was not involved in any form of illegal mining and condemned the task force’s alleged behavior as barbaric and unwarranted.