Soldiers Accused in Death of SHS Student at Manso Akwasiso
Tension is mounting at Manso Akwasiso in the Amansie South District of the Ashanti Region following the death of a 20-year-old small-scale miner, Evans Alotey, who was allegedly chased into a galamsey pit by military personnel.
The deceased, a second-year student of Okomfo Anokye Senior High School, was confirmed dead on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, after soldiers reportedly stormed mining sites in the area and fired live ammunition to disperse miners.
Eyewitnesses said Evans, upon seeing the military personnel who arrived in three pickup vehicles, fled alongside other miners but accidentally fell into a pit. According to a colleague miner, attempts by some of the miners to rescue him were thwarted by the soldiers, who allegedly fired warning shots to prevent them from getting closer.
The Assembly Member for the area, Hon. Nsiah Kesse, confirmed the incident during a demonstration by aggrieved residents, describing the soldiers’ conduct as unacceptable.
“The boys around could have saved him, yet the military stopped them, overseeing his death,” he stated.
Hon. Kesse further alleged that the military personnel, who are said to be supervising a land reclamation exercise at Manso Nyankomase, have been extorting money from both legal and illegal miners in the area. According to him, the soldiers frequently move from one site to another demanding money, and confrontations often occur when miners refuse to comply.
The incident has sparked outrage in the community, leading to a demonstration by residents who are demanding a full-scale investigation into the circumstances surrounding the young man’s death.
Nana Kwakye Gyimah Yeboah II, Chief of Akwasiso, joined the demonstrators and made a passionate appeal to the government, the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), the Minister for the Interior, and the District Chief Executive, Hon. Benjamin Marfo, to intervene and put an end to what he described as persistent harassment of residents by military personnel.
Residents say the situation has created fear and heightened tension in the area, and they are calling on the appropriate authorities to take swift action to restore calm and ensure justice is served.
