The Member of Parliament for Manso Nkwanta in the Ashanti Region, Tweneboa Kodua Fokuo, has called for urgent justice and accountability following a violent incident at Asanko Mines that claimed the lives of an elected Assemblyman and another resident.
In a press statement issued on Tuesday, September 9, 2025, the MP expressed deep grief over what he described as a “heinous act of violence” allegedly carried out by military officers deployed to the mining company.
According to Mr. Fokuo, the brutality has not only robbed families of their loved ones but also struck at the heart of Ghana’s democracy, security, and community dignity.
For months, residents of Manso Nkwanta have raised concerns about intimidation, harassment, and molestation by security personnel at the mine. The MP warned that the escalation of these abuses into lethal force underscores the urgent need for a national review of the use of armed officers in private company operations.
He demanded immediate action from key state institutions, particularly the Ministry of the Interior, to launch an independent public inquiry into the conduct of the military officers. He also called on the Ministry of Defence and the Ghana Armed Forces to punish the officers responsible and review their deployment policies.
The MP further urged the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources and the Minerals Commission to investigate Asanko Mines’ role in the incident and reassess its community engagement practices. He also called on the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) to probe human rights violations and recommend redress.
Mr. Fokuo asked Parliament’s Defence and Interior Committee to summon relevant ministers for accountability, and called for the suspension of all military personnel at the mine pending investigations. He also demanded full compensation and state recognition for the bereaved families, as well as psychosocial support for the traumatized community.
“This tragedy must be a turning point for Ghana. The blood of our brothers, including the late Assemblyman, must not go in vain. We owe it to their memory, and to the dignity of the Ghanaian people, to ensure that justice is done swiftly, transparently, and without fear or favour,” the MP stated.
He also appealed to the media, civil society, faith-based groups, and the international community to stand with the people of Manso Nkwanta in demanding justice and safeguarding citizens against corporate and institutional abuse.
Read the statemet elow:
PRESS STATEMENT
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: 9th September 2025
Location: Manso Nkwanta Constituency, Ashanti Region
SUBJECT: CALL FOR JUSTICE AND ACCOUNTABILITY OVER MILITARY BRUTALITY AT ASANKO MINES RESULTING IN THE DEATH OF AN ASSEMBLYMAN AND A RESIDENT IN MANSO NKWANTA
Introduction & Incident Background
I have received with deep shock and grief the tragic events that occurred at the operational area of Asanko Mines, where military officers deployed to the company brutalized community members, leading to the untimely death of an elected Assemblyman and another resident. This heinous act of violence not only robs families of their loved ones but also strikes at the very heart of our democracy, security, and the dignity of the communities that host the mine.
For several months, residents of the Manso enclave have raised concerns over intimidation, molestation, and harassment allegedly perpetrated by security personnel attached to the mine. These incidents have created a climate of fear and mistrust, undermining the social fabric of the community and eroding the mutual respect that must exist between a corporate entity and its host communities.
The recent escalation into lethal force resulting in the loss of lives cannot be tolerated under any circumstance. This tragedy must serve as a turning point for the State, the mining company, and security institutions to re-examine the deployment of armed officers in private company operations and ensure that the rights, freedoms, and safety of citizens are respected at all times.
Demands & Responsibility
In the spirit of justice, accountability, and the rule of law, we hereby call on the following Ministries and Government Agencies to take immediate action:
- Ministry of the Interior – to initiate an independent public inquiry into the deployment, conduct, and accountability of the military officers involved, and to outline clear guidelines for the use of armed security in private commercial spaces.
- Ministry of Defence & Ghana Armed Forces Command – to take disciplinary and criminal action against the officers directly responsible for the shootings. Furthermore, they must conduct a thorough review of their deployment policy to prevent the military from being used as an instrument of corporate intimidation.
- Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources & Minerals Commission – to investigate the role of Asanko Mines in this incident, including whether the company sanctioned or facilitated such excessive use of force, and to review the company’s social responsibility and community engagement practices.
- Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) – to independently examine the human rights violations suffered by the community and make binding recommendations for redress, including compensation for victims’ families.
- Parliament of Ghana, Defence and Interior Committee – to summon the Ministers of Defence, Interior, and Lands and Natural Resources to answer questions on the matter and ensure transparent accountability to the Ghanaian people.
Call for Justice & Way Forward
I hereby demand the following on behalf of the people of Manso Nkwanta:
- Immediate suspension of all military personnel operating at Asanko Mines pending the outcome of investigations.
- Full compensation and state recognition for the bereaved families, given the profound loss of an Assemblyman who served his people with dedication.
- Psychosocial support for the families and community members traumatized by the incident.
This incident must not be treated as an isolated case, but as a wake-up call for Ghana to rethink the relationship between mining companies, security institutions, and host communities. The blood of our brothers, including the late Assemblyman, must not go in vain. We owe it to their memory, and to the dignity of the Ghanaian people, to ensure that justice is done swiftly, transparently, and without fear or favour.
I therefore urge the media, civil society, faith-based organizations, and the international community to stand with the people of Manso Nkwanta in demanding justice and safeguarding the rights of all Ghanaians against corporate and institutional abuse.
Signed
Hon. Tweneboa Kodua Fokuo
CC:
- The Presidency
- Speaker of Parliament
- Ministry of Defence
- Ministry of the Interior
- Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources
- Minerals Commission
- CHRAJ
- Civil Society Organizations
- The Media
Source: AdomOnline
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