Mother of seven shot amid clashes between soldiers and Saamang residents

A mother of seven, Janet Koh, is fighting for her life after suffering gunshot wounds during a confrontation between military personnel and residents of Saamang, a community in the Fanteakwa South District.

The incident unfolded during a heated standoff on Saturday, August 2, when youth in the area resisted attempts by soldiers to arrest two community members.

The military had been deployed to the town to provide security for Kibi Goldfields Limited, a mining firm accused by locals of operating illegally within the buffer zone and main course of the River Akusu, a river held sacred by the community.

According to eyewitnesses, the operations by the mining company were halted by residents at the Akusu River. In response, the military, reportedly acting on a request from the company, arrested two young men alleged to be leaders of the protest.

Tensions escalated as residents, angered by the arrests, attempted to block the road to stop the soldiers from removing the detainees. In the resulting chaos, military personnel fired several warning shots to disperse the crowd.

The victim, a trader who was selling roasted corn near the scene, was struck in the right leg by a stray bullet as she tried to flee the area.

She was quickly rushed to the Saviour Memorial Hospital in Osiem, where she remains on admission and is said to be in critical condition.

Tensions remained high, with residents expressing outrage over what they describe as military brutality.

Some community members, including eyewitnesses and relatives of the injured, are demanding an independent investigation, justice for the victims, and the immediate release of the two detained individuals.

Read More