The Member of Parliament (MP) for Manso Nkwanta, Tweneboa Kodua Fokuo, has called for urgent state intervention and accountability following the deaths of an elected Assemblyman and a resident, allegedly caused by military brutality at Asanko Mines in the Ashanti Region.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, September 9, 2025, the MP expressed deep shock over the incident, describing it as a grave attack on democracy, human rights, and the dignity of host communities.
According to him, the military officers deployed to the mining concession brutalised members of the community during a recent confrontation, leading to the deaths.
The MP noted that for several months, residents in the Manso area had raised concerns about harassment, intimidation, and molestation by security personnel attached to the mine.
“This heinous act of violence not only robs families of their loved ones but also strikes at the very heart of our democracy, security, and the dignity of the communities that host the mine,” he said.
Mr. Fokuo warned that the loss of lives signified a dangerous escalation of tensions between the mining company and the community, and demanded that the state urgently re-examine the role of the military in private commercial operations.
The MP outlined a series of demands directed at key government ministries and institutions. He called on the Ministry of the Interior to initiate an independent inquiry into the conduct of the soldiers, and for the Ministry of Defence and the Ghana Armed Forces to take disciplinary and criminal action against those directly involved.
He further urged the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources and the Minerals Commission to investigate Asanko Mines’ role in the incident, while also tasking the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) to examine potential human rights violations and recommend redress for affected families.
Parliament’s Defence and Interior Committee, he added, should summon relevant ministers to account to the Ghanaian people.
The legislator also demanded the immediate suspension of all military personnel operating at the mine, full compensation for the bereaved families, and psychosocial support for community members traumatised by the incident.
“This tragedy must serve as a turning point for Ghana to rethink the relationship between mining companies, security institutions, and host communities,” he stressed and added, “The blood of our brothers, including the late Assemblyman, must not go in vain.”
MP Fokuo appealed to the media, civil society, religious groups, and the international community to support the people of Manso Nkwanta in demanding justice and ensuring that such abuses do not recur.
By Ernest Kofi Adu