The Military, overpowered by Manso Tontokrom youth, was not a task force from the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, Mahmud Kabore clarifies
The spokesperson of the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, Mahmud Kabore, has issued a clarification regarding the ongoing tensions in Manso Tontokrom, specifically addressing reports that the military personnel deployed in the area were linked to the Ministry.
The mining community of Manso Tontokrom in the Amansie South District (Ashanti Region) has experienced escalating tensions tied to ongoing disputes with Asanko Gold Mines over mining concessions.
A violent clash between local residents and security personnel deployed by the mining company resulted in three fatalities, prompting an official investigation by the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources
Military presence in the area has periodically increased, prompting strong responses from residents. Reports confirm that youth groups blocked entry roads and prevented military personnel from gaining access to the mining site during a recent stand-off
Seeking to dispel misinformation, PRO Mahmud Kabore emphasized on Kessben FM that the military contingent overtaken or confronted by the youth of Tontokrom was not a task force formed, directed, or sponsored by the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources.
Instead, he made clear, any security deployment in the area was the responsibility of national security authorities, namely the Ghana Armed Forces, acting as part of the state-led initiative to safeguard mining concessions and curtail illegal operations.
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