EXPLOSIVES BELIEVED to be bombs clandestinely planted in the operational areas of Changfai, a mining company at Akrofufu in the Atiwa District of the Eastern region to ward off anti-illegal mining taskforce have led to serious injuries to two members of the taskforce.
The victims, Oduro Gyan, 50, and Kwabena Frimpong, 56, sustained various degrees of injuries after the explosives went off when the taskforce visited the mining site.
Gyan has been discharged; however, Frimpong is currently receiving treatment at the Koforidua Regional Hospital.
According to Frimpong, the incident occurred when the local taskforce set up by Osabarima Nana Adigye Gyamfi, chief of Akyem Akrofufu during a usual visit to the site set fire into excavators of the company.
He said, having destroyed two of the excavators in earlier operations, the galamsey operators upon sensing danger fixed explosive weapons suspected to be bombs into one of the excavators and went into hiding.
Unknown to the taskforce, the minute the heat hit the excavator; there was a loud explosion which injured two members of the taskforce.
The victims were rushed to Engresi Government Hospital where Gyan was treated and discharged; however Frimpong was referred to Koforidua Regional Hospital where he is receiving treatment.
The incident is yet to be reported to the Police at Anyinam; however, the taskforce say it has lost confidence in the police, alleging that some police officers have been bought by the illegal miners.
The Chief of Akyem Akrofufu, Osabarima Nana Adigye Gyamfi told the Daily Heritage in an interview that the incident will not discourage their fight against the illegal miners.
He said the Changfai group mainly undertakes their activities in the Birim River. The miners he said are from the Volta region and are believed to be sponsored by some Chinese operatives since the machines they use are special which enables them mine in the Birim River.
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