Student, 20, dies in galamsey pit

The dusty mining town of Manso Akwasiso in the Amansie South District of Ashanti is heavy with grief.

On Tuesday, February 17, the life of a 20-year-old, Evans Allotey—a student, son, and miner—was cut short in a way that has left his community shaken and angry.

Evans, a second-year student at Okomfo Anokye Senior High School, had joined friends at a small-scale mining site when soldiers stormed the area.

Witnesses say the military arrived in three pickups, firing live rounds to disperse miners. In the chaos, Evans fled. His escape ended in tragedy when he stumbled into a deep galamsey pit.

“He could have been saved,” one miner recalled bitterly. “We tried to reach him, but the soldiers fired warning shots to keep us away. We watched him die.”

For residents, the pain is not only in the loss of a promising young man but in the manner of his death.

The Assembly Member of the area, Nsiah Kesse, condemned the soldiers’ actions, calling them “unacceptable” and accused them of overseeing Evans’s death. He further alleged that the military in the area has been deployed for land reclamation at nearby Manso Nyankomase.

The outrage spilled onto the streets as aggrieved residents staged a demonstration on last Wednesday (February 18) to register their displeasure.

Joining them was Nana Kwakye Gyimah Yeboah II, Chief of Akwasiso, who appealed directly to the government, the Inspector-General of Police, and the Minister for the Interior to intervene to end the harassment, restore calm, and deliver justice.

“This is not just about Evans,” the Chief said. “It is about the fear that grips our people every time soldiers arrive. It is about dignity, about the right to live without intimidation,” he lamented.

The death of Evans Allotey, the Chief noted, “is not just one family’s pain. It has become a reminder of the uneasy relationship between local communities and the soldiers sent to control mining.”

He said, “the town is waiting. People want answers. We want justice for Evans. And above all, want peace so life can go on without fear.”

From Kingsley E. Hope, Kumasi

Join our WhatsApp Channel now!
https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbBElzjInlqHhl1aTU27