The galamsey site where the incident happened
Two persons are receiving treatment at the Holy Family Hospital at Nkawkaw in the Eastern Region after sustaining gunshot wounds during a violent clash between rival illegal mining groups at Behenase, near Awiregya, in the Kwahu West Municipality.
The incident has thrown residents in the community into a state of fear, following a confrontation between the two groups operating at an illegal mining site in the area.
One of the victims is said to have sustained severe gunshot injuries to his genital area during the clash.
The Assembly Member for the Awiregya Electoral Area, Sampson Tenkoang, who confirmed the incident, described the development as disturbing, saying similar violent clashes had occurred in the area in the past.
He appealed to the National Security and other law enforcement agencies to intensify operations in the area and flush out illegal miners whose activities, he said, continued to pose a threat to residents.
According to him, the activities of illegal miners had created serious security concerns and could result in more deadly incidents if urgent measures were not taken.
The latest clash has renewed calls for increased security operations to curb violence linked to illegal mining activities in Behenase and surrounding communities.
Meanwhile, Abena Grace, the mother of one of the victims who sustained serious injuries, has appealed for justice.
She expressed concern over what she described as growing violence associated with illegal mining.
She called on the authorities to investigate the incident thoroughly, arrest those responsible and ensure that they face the law.
FROM David Afum, Nkawkaw