Janet Koh, a local trader and mother of seven, is hospitalized after being struck by a stray bullet during violent clashes between residents of Saamang in Ghana’s Eastern Region and military personnel.
Koh was selling roasted corn near the confrontation site when chaos erupted. Eyewitnesses report the military had been deployed to protect Kibi Goldfields Limited, a company accused by locals of encroaching on the sacred River Akusu.
Tensions flared earlier when community members disrupted the company’s operations, leading to the arrest of two young men believed to be protest leaders. As soldiers attempted to leave with the detainees, residents blocked the road, prompting the military to fire warning shots to disperse the crowd. Koh was hit in the leg while attempting to flee the scene. She remains under care at Saviour Memorial Hospital in Osiem following emergency treatment.
When visited by local media on Sunday, August 3, the community remained tense, with residents demanding the immediate release of the detained youths and accountability for what they describe as excessive military force. The incident highlights escalating friction over mining activities and land rights in the region.
