The death toll from a clash between residents and anti-illegal-mining officers at Manso Keniago in Ghana's Ashanti Region has risen to six, with 15 others injured, as tensions in the community boiled over on Thursday.

The confrontation broke out on Wednesday afternoon in the Amansie South District between residents of Manso Keniago, suspected illegal miners and personnel of the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS), the task force set up to curb illegal small-scale mining, known locally as galamsey.

JoyNews reported on Thursday that the death toll, which had initially stood at three, had climbed to six. Assembly Member Charles Oduro had earlier confirmed four deaths and 15 injuries while visiting victims receiving treatment at St Martin's Hospital in Agroyesum.

What happened at Manso Keniago

The clash reportedly stemmed from a disagreement over the transport of excavators seized during an anti-illegal-mining operation. NAIMOS said its personnel were moving the seized equipment to a designated location for safekeeping when they were confronted by residents and suspected illegal miners who tried to stop the movement.

NAIMOS said its personnel came under threat from an armed group and fired warning shots, and that two of its officers sustained gunshot wounds during the confrontation. The secretariat has confirmed three deaths from the incident.

Residents and traditional authorities have disputed that account, saying the excavator was not seized from Manso Keniago but was merely being transported through the community. They have alleged that a chief was assaulted and shots were fired at his vehicle, and have appealed to President John Dramani Mahama and the Inspector-General of Police to order an independent investigation.

Two conflicting accounts

NAIMOS spokesperson Paa Kwesi Schandorf told JoyNews on Thursday that the deaths resulted from an act of self-defence by the secretariat's personnel.

Community leaders, including the Chief of Domi-Keniago, Nana Obeng Mensah Ababio II, have called for justice for those who lost their lives and for those responsible to be held accountable. The exact circumstances surrounding each of the fatalities remain unclear, and neither the police nor the hospital has issued a formal consolidated casualty count, so the figures reported should be treated as unconfirmed by the authorities.

Tensions rise as toll climbs

On Thursday, angry youth dressed in red and black mourning attire besieged the palace of the paramount chief of Manso Keniago and nearly attacked the District Chief Executive, whom they accused of failing to take adequate steps to contain the situation.

JoyNews reporter Nana Yaw Agyeman, reporting from the scene, said the community was gripped by grief and anger as residents mourned while the youth agitated openly against local authorities. Police remained present to maintain order between the aggrieved community and local officials as the situation remained tense.