Tension is mounting at Anyinam in the Atiwa District of the Eastern Region as angry residents blame Operation Vanguard taskforce for the deaths of four miners.

Agitating residents claim the four were killed by members of the special anti-galamsey taskforce close to a mining pit at Akyem Akukuso, a mineral-rich town in the Atiwa District.

The leader of the search party that found the bodies, one Kwasi Nyarko, told Adom News’ Maxwell Kudekor Sunday that the four were hired to a mining site at Akyem Akukuso to tow away some mining equipment last night but did not return.

He indicated that a search operation was subsequently carried out and the bodies of the deceased were found in a shallow river.

As a result of the incident, some angry illegal miners in Anyinam and Kwarbeng allegedly prevented Kwabeng Police from conveying the bodies to Kibi Government Hospital.

It took the intervention of the Member of Parliament for the area, Kwasi Amoako Atta, before the angry residents allowed police to convey the bodies to the morgue.

Two of the bodies have been identified as Iddrisu Usiff, 38 and  Charles Osei Amponsah, 25.

The other two were identified only by their first names -- T.T and Alhaji.

The spokesperson for Operation Vanguard, Major Gariba Pabi, has, however, denied the claims, stating that the taskforce has not been to the area.

"We also just heard about this rumour about an hour ago. Our guys in Eastern Region, yesterday the farthest they went was Akrofufu and it is alleged the issued happened at Bomaa. 

"Our operations are such that we have timelines for when we can go on night operations and it is alleged [the incident] happened in the night, towards dawn. From Akrofufu to Bomaa, there are about 83 villages apart," he said.

He said the allegations against the taskforce could also not be true because his men worked from 12:30hr to 17:30hr.

Operation Vanguard

The government commissioned Operation Vanguard taskforce two weeks ago to scale up the fight against relentless and sometimes armed illegal miners dotted around mineral-rich sites in the Ashanti, Eastern, and Western regions.

The current administration has vowed to stamp out the illegal mining activities that have destroyed water bodies and entire ecosystems.

At least five illegal miners have died in clashes with the task force recently,

Related: One dead as Operation Vanguard tastes major clash with illegal miners

Related:  Galamsey war "going well" as 15 more suspects arrested

Seized mining equipment have been set ablaze, prompting concerns that the deployment of the joint secuity forces could be heavy handedness in dealing with the issue.

Video: Anti-galamsey taskforce set seized excavators on fire