Teenager Shot Dead at Galamsey Site in Dormaa East
A 16-year-old boy has been shot dead by an unknown assailant while reportedly engaged in illegal gold mining (galamsey) activities in the Bono Region.
The victim, identified as Issahaku Ansu, was killed at an illegal mining site in Amasu, a farming community in the Dormaa East District. His death underscores the growing dangers and human toll of Ghana’s galamsey crisis.
In a statement, the Bono Regional Police Command, through its Public Relations Officer, Chief Inspector Thomas Akeelah, confirmed the incident. According to police findings, the teenager sustained multiple gunshot wounds to the back, suggesting he was shot from a distance while mining. Others at the site reportedly fled after the attack.
Police retrieved the body, which was found clad in blood-soaked wine-coloured boxer shorts, and deposited it at the Dormaa Ahenkro Presbyterian Hospital mortuary for preservation and autopsy.
Authorities have launched investigations to track down the perpetrators, describing the act as a “heinous crime.”
The killing highlights the darker side of illegal mining in Ghana, which has become a national crisis. Beyond devastating forests and polluting vital rivers such as the Pra and Ankobra, galamsey operations often trigger violence, accidents, and fatalities.
With limited job opportunities, many rural youth are drawn into the perilous trade by the lure of quick wealth. Yet, as Ansu’s death illustrates, the reality is a life-threatening, lawless environment that continues to claim lives.
The police have assured the public of intensified efforts to bring the attackers to justice.
