The Member of Parliament for Manso Nkwanta Tweneboa Kodua Fokuo has called for an independent investigation into the killing of a local assemblyman and another resident during clashes with soldiers deployed at Asanko Gold Mines in the Ashanti region.

He said in a statement on Tuesday that military officers brutalised community members in the mining enclave, escalating a long history of alleged harassment by security personnel.

“This heinous act of violence not only robs families of their loved ones but also strikes at the very heart of our democracy, security, and the dignity of the communities that host the mine,” Fokuo said.

Residents of Mpatuam and its surrounding communities have for months accused security attached to the mine of intimidation and molestation, creating “a climate of fear and mistrust,” the MP added.

Fokuo urged the government, mining firms and security agencies to review the deployment of armed officers in private operations to prevent further abuses.