A coalition of civil society organisations has called on the Ghana Police Service to investigate an alleged incident in which a 61-year-old cocoa farmer was reportedly chased from her farm at Patriensa in the Ashanti Region by a man wielding a cutlass.
A Rocha Ghana, the Nature and Development Foundation, WACAM and the Network of Legal Advocates for Land and Human Rights said they submitted a formal criminal complaint to the District Police Commander in Konongo on September 29, 2026, following the circulation of a video of the incident on social media.
According to the groups, the video was recorded by the farmer’s son, who was present during the incident. They said the son told their teams that he had gone to the farm after learning that a group of people had entered the property and commenced mining without his mother’s knowledge or consent.
The groups said portions of the cocoa farm had allegedly already been cleared and destroyed and that the individuals on the land allegedly failed to identify who had authorised the mining activities or produce any licence, permit or approval.
They further alleged that the group became aggressive and confronted the farmer and her son with cutlasses before chasing them from the farm.
The organisations stressed that the allegations require investigation by the Police and that the evidence should determine whether any offences were committed.
They also linked the Patriensa incident to what they described as reports from other mining-affected communities of farm destruction, pollution of water sources and intimidation associated with unauthorised mining activities.
The groups said some farmers are reluctant to report such incidents because of concerns about retaliation or doubts that their complaints will result in action.
They argued that failure to address alleged threats and intimidation could undermine confidence in law enforcement and make it more difficult for communities to resist unauthorised mining activities.
The organisations have therefore called on the Police to conduct a prompt and impartial investigation into the Patriensa incident, protect the farmer, her son and others assisting the investigation, and secure any equipment, vehicles, weapons or minerals that may be connected to suspected offences in accordance with the law.
They also want the Police to improve mechanisms for farmers and other community members in galamsey-affected areas to report threats, trespass and destruction of property and to provide public updates on investigations, subject to privacy and safety considerations.
The groups said they remain ready to assist the investigation into the Patriensa case and will continue engaging state institutions on the protection of affected communities.
