Tontokrom youth clash with alleged machomen on mining concession; three dead

Three persons have been confirmed dead following a clash between residents of Manso Tontokrom in the Amansie South and some alleged machomen over a mining concession in the area.

A resident was allegedly shot dead by the muscularly built men for trespassing at a mining site, Saturday afternoon.

This infuriated the youth who launch a reprisal attack and lynched two of the killers.

“We saw two branded Asanko Mines vehicles and four non-branded ones occupied by machomen in the community. Some of the youth went closer to the vehicles to hoot at the occupants and before we realized the machomen had started firing gunshots. One person was hit by a stray bullet and died on the spot. We were left with no choice than to also attack them. The vehicles sped off but two machomen fell on the ground. They were lynched”, an eyewitness, Emmanuel Appiah narrated to 3news.com

The community had earlier staged a protest to demand for the establishment of a community mining in Tontokrom to provide jobs for the unemployed youth.

They accused, mining firm, Asanko Mines for attempting to take over a mining concession belonging to them.

But the company refuted the claims saying the community mining approval has not been granted by government because the site the residents are aiming at falls within their (Asanko Mines) operational area.