One suspected illegal miner has been killed and another injured after a group of suspected illegal miners allegedly opened fire on soldiers during an anti-galamsey operation in the Atiwa Forest Reserve in the Eastern Region.
According to MyJoyOnline, citing an operational account, the clash happened on Monday, 2 November 2026, when an Army Special Operations Brigade (ASOB) team working under Operation GREEN SHIELD advanced about 10 kilometres into the forest to a suspected mining site identified through drone surveillance.
The foot patrol, which lasted from 11am to 5pm, led the team to a site where about 50 suspected illegal miners were reportedly working. Some of the miners tried to flee while others allegedly opened fire on the patrol, and the operatives returned fire, the report said.
One suspected miner was killed and another was injured. The injured suspect was given first aid at the scene and taken to Kyebi Government Hospital for treatment. Two pump-action guns and 6 rounds of ammunition were seized.
Four suspects, 3 Malian nationals and a Ghanaian, were arrested and handed over to the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) for further action. Rainbow Radio reported that no member of the security team was hurt.
The arrested suspects have not been named and no charges have been reported. They remain presumed innocent.