Inspector General of Police (IGP) Mohammed Ahmed Alhassan has ordered investigations into the death of two illegal small scale miners, who drowned in the Pra River following a swoop by a local task force in Twifo Praso in the Central Region last week.

In an interview on TV3’s 7GMT on Monday, August 12, 2013, DSP Freeman Tettey of the Public Affairs Directorate of the Ghana Police Service stated that the local police undertook the operation to flush out illegal miners.

The two deceased – part of a gang of seven who were escaping the task force – drowned as they attempted to cross the Pra River, according to the police.

Residents, however, claim the deceased were shot dead by the police.

They, therefore, attacked the local police station in Twifo Praso to express their anger.

The actions of the irate residents led to the transfer of four of the arrested illegal miners, our Central Region correspondent said.

Thomas Kwesi Asante also added that some prisoners broke jail as a result of the “demonstration” by the residents.

Over 100 police officers have been deployed to ensure security in Twifo Praso, Thomas Asante disclosed on Monday.

The regional minister, Samuel Sarpong, has also decided to go and assess the situation for himself, Thomas said.

But the IGP expects a report on investigation “as soon as possible”.

“We want to use this opportunity to appeal to the people of Twifo Praso to exercise restraint,” DSP Tettey stated.

“We know that [Twifo Praso] is not a lawless place,” he added.


TV3 News|Ghana