Tension erupted in Manso Mpatasie, a community in the Amansie South District of the Ashanti Region, following a heated clash between residents and unidentified National Security operatives accompanied by police officers on Wednesday, July 9, 2025.

The confrontation, which occurred during a government-backed crackdown on illegal mining, left one person injured and receiving treatment at St Martin Catholic Hospital in Agroyesum.

The chaos unfolded when the security personnel stormed the area in search of excavators allegedly used in illegal small-scale mining, commonly known as galamsey.

However, the operation turned confrontational when officers attempted to seize excavators parked in residential compounds rather than at active mining sites, sparking outrage among residents and miners.