A 25-year-old excavator operator, Gausu Yusif, has been shot and killed following a violent attack in the Awutu Kwame Whettey Forest in the Awutu Senya West District of the Central Region.
His colleague, Charles Essuman, sustained gunshot wounds during the same incident and remains in critical condition, according to police sources.
The Awutu Bereku District Police Command confirmed that the incident occurred while the two men were operating an excavator in the forest. They were reportedly engaged in clearing bushes and creating access routes to enable the collection of rock samples for a stone quarry project.
Police say preliminary information indicates that the victims were using the excavator when unknown assailants, said to be riding on a motorbike, suddenly opened fire on them. The attackers fled the scene immediately after the shooting.
The Awutu Bereku District Commander, Superintendent Edmond Nyamekye, who confirmed the incident to Kasapa News, stated that investigations have commenced to establish the circumstances surrounding the attack and to identify those involved.
He added that police are working with available intelligence to trace the perpetrators and determine the motive for the shooting. As of the time of reporting, no arrests had been made.
Meanwhile, the Chief of Awutu Aberful, Nai Kojo Nam-Quaye, has called for a thorough investigation into the killing. The traditional leader, who reportedly facilitated the release of the rock site to Chinese investors, appealed directly to the Inspector-General of Police to ensure that those responsible are brought to justice.