A tragic incident unfolded on Sunday, August 31, 2025, when a 16-year-old boy was shot dead by an unidentified assailant while reportedly engaged in illegal gold mining, popularly known as galamsey.
The victim, identified as Issahaku Ansu, lost his life at an illegal mining site in Amasu, a farming community in the Dormaa East District. His death underscores the grave dangers and human toll associated with Ghana’s ongoing galamsey crisis.
In a statement signed by the Bono Regional Police Public Relations Officer, Chief Inspector Thomas Akeelah, authorities confirmed the incident. Police officers who visited the scene discovered the body with multiple gunshot wounds to the back, suggesting that the shots were fired from a distance.
The body was found wearing a pair of blood-soaked, wine-coloured boxer shorts and has since been deposited at the Dormaa Ahenkro Presbyterian Hospital mortuary for preservation and autopsy.
The Bono Regional Police Command has pledged to intensify its investigations in order to bring the perpetrators to justice.
This incident is not an isolated one but reflects the broader risks that come with illegal mining. The sector, largely uncontrolled, has become a national crisis — destroying forests, polluting major rivers such as the Pra and Ankobra, and exposing participants to violence, exploitation, and death.
Driven by poverty and limited employment opportunities, many young people from rural communities continue to be drawn into the perilous trade. The lure of quick money often overshadows the harsh reality of working in a lawless and unsafe environment.
The death of young Issahaku serves as a grim reminder of the urgent need for stronger interventions to address both the environmental destruction and the human cost of galamsey — a crisis claiming lives alongside the land.
