Ten persons have been arrested in connection with the violent clash between two small-scale mining groups near the Bonsaso River in Tarkwa in the Western Region.

The suspects who have been remanded into Police custody to appear in court on April 6, are also to assist with investigations.

They have also been provisionally charged with murder, causing unlawful harm, and possession of offensive weapons.

According to the PRO of the Western Regional Police Command, DSP Olivia Adiku, two persons who were treated at the Tarkwa hospital have also been arrested after they were discharged, bringing the number to 12.

Two other persons are still receiving medical attention at the Tarkwa government hospital due to their critical conditions.

“So far, 10 people have been arrested. They were arraigned yesterday [Thursday], and they have been remanded to custody to reappear on April 6, 2022.

"Two others, one Awal Mohammed whose severe injury has been sent to Effia Nkwanta Hospital, and Alhassan Isaka is still on admission at the Takoradi Government hospital,” she told Citi FM in an interview.

She noted that the police are yet to get details of what led to the fight from the suspects.

“We need to have them to be able to get to the bottom of the issue. For now, we don’t have the details on what led to the fight, but through investigation, we will be able to establish what the problem was,” she said.

On Wednesday, two groups were involved in a violent clash near the Bonsaso River in Tarkwa over a mining concession which led to the death of one person.

The two sides involved in the dispute were alleged to be affiliated to small-scale mining giant, Okobeng and Deputy Lands & Natural Resources Minister, George Mireku Duker.

According to JoyNews’ Samuel Kojo Brace, reports indicate that the two groups have been engaging in a feud over the mining concession for some time now.

A bystander who witnessed the clash between the rival small-scale mining groups told JoyNews that “they were many. They came with two cars, wielded guns and cutlasses, and started shooting and slashing each other with guns and cutlasses.”