A galamseyer (illegal miner) at Ntotroso in the Ahafo Region, John Sarfo, affectionately called Nigeria man, aged 43 years, and married with three children, has been stabbed to death at a galamsey (illegal mining) site during a confrontation.
An associate and eyewitness of the incident, Kwadwo Bright, explained that on Tuesday, 27th May 2020, in the evening he had a call from a friend to assist him convey loads or samples from the site, so he called the deceased to accompany them.
He narrated that they set off for the samples at 7pm, and around 9pm, on their way home, they were confronted by the task force numbering about five, which insisted that the loads ought to be given to them, because their (galamseyers) activities were illegal and they had been warned to desist from such acts.
Because they resisted, the members of the task force began destroying the sacks containing the samples, so they also tried preventing them, and even asked that they spare them since they were all natives.
He stated that because tension was high, the suspect, who is currently in police custody at Ntotroso, Kofi Asiedu, popularly called Scort, removed a knife and stabbed the deceased to death.
“The last words from the deceased when stabbed were Kofi you’ve killed me,” the eyewitness said.
Kwadwo Bright stated that the deceased bleed profusely after being stabbed, and before he was taken to the hospital was pronounced dead.
The father of the deceased, Tony Nsowah Kwarteng, said he was informed around 11pm that his son had been stabbed and that it was serious, so he followed only to meet his death. He continued to say the police are able to arrest the suspect.
Mr. Kwarteng said what had happened was unacceptable and his plea is that the police must act professionally by apprehending all the task force members present at the scene, and send them to court for justice to prevail.
“If justice is failed, then hell will break loss at Ntotroso between us and the families of the task force,” he lamented.
He added that losing a son via stabbing in cold blood was not easy, so justice must brought to bear for peacef to reign in the community.
Because the stakes are high as a result of the incident, the Paramount Chief of Ntotroso, Barima Twereko Ampem III, advised the residents, especially the family of the deceased, to exercise patience and allow the police to investigate.
He stated that the existence of the task force in the community was known to all, and the members are mandated to ensure that all those engaging in the act are reported to the police, so he will debunk the statement made by the residents that they were not aware its existence.
The police was not ready to speak to the media, but it was confirmed that the suspect was in their custody, as well as the driver of the commercial tricycle (pragia) containing the samples or load.
Heavy security was present at the Ntotroso Police Station to ensure that the residents, who were angry and eager to storm the cell to unlock and beat the suspect to death as well, cannot.
“We want Scort to taste death, whether is sweet or bitter, so allow us,” the angry youth lamented.
The body has been deposited at the Saint Elizabeth Hospital morgue at Hwidiem, also in the region.
The post Galamseyer stabbed to death in Ahafo appeared first on The Chronicle Online.
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