Two persons have allegedly been shot and killed by Chinese illegal gold miners over a disputed land at Mamiriwa in Obuasi in the Ashanti Region.
Following the incident, the police have picked up two Chinese men for interrogation.
The suspects, Li Wen Zhong and Li Shi Li, are said to be among a group of 14 illegal miners who opened fire on the defenceless Ghanaians, numbering 10, about 6 p.m. on Wednesday, killing the two on the spot and critically injuring two others.
The other 12 Chinese suspects are said to be on the run.
The dead have been identified as Nana Boateng and Eric Ofori, while Anthony Apraku and Alexander Adamu, who were wounded, are on admission at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) in Kumasi.
The police are yet to locate the six other Ghanaians who were at the scene of the shooting.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic yesterday, the Obuasi Divisional Police Crime Officer, Deputy Superintendent of Police Mr Kwabena Otuo-Acheampong, said the Chinese, who had been operating on a parcel of land in the area for some time now, shared a boundary with a man named Kofi Gyimah.
He said last Wednesday Gyimah, who accused the Chinese of encroachment on his land, sent the young men to them to force them to stop their activities on his land.
But the young men were met with fierce resistance by the Chinese.
Mr Otuo-Acheampong said while the Ghanaians were leaving the place, the Chinese opened fire on a vehicle, with registration number AS 1977 X, in which the Ghanaians were travelling.
Boateng and Ofori, according to the driver, died in the process, while Adamu and Apraku suffered gunshot wounds.
The injured were first taken to the Obuasi Government Hospital, from where they were transferred to KATH.
Mr Otuo-Acheampong said the Chinese fled the scene, but the police managed to arrest Zhong and Li later.
They are in custody in Obuasi assisting in investigations.
Mr Otuo-Acheampong said those arrested claimed the Ghanaians had attempted to rob them, leading to the shooting.
However, the crime officer disputed the allegation.
�Initially we were told it was robbery, but we found that to be untrue,� he said.
According to him, when the police went to the crime scene, the two dead bodies were lying in pools of blood.
They were consequently conveyed to the morgue of the Obuasi Government Hospital.
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