Calm restored at Obuasi mine — Anglogold Ashanti

Accra, Jan 19, GNA – Anglogold Ashanti says calm has been restored after a deadly shootout between a group of illegal miners and military men at the company’s Obuasi concession on Saturday night.

The incident, which occurred within the fenced operational area in the northern part of the concession, resulted in the deaths of eight individuals.

In a statement issued Sunday, January 19, Anglogold Ashanti confirmed the incident, stating that it was working closely with the authorities to ensure the safety and health of its employees and the community members who have been directly impacted by the incident.

Illegal miners numbering about 60 armed with locally manufactured rifles, pump-action guns, machetes, axes, among other tools and equipment, breached the mines security fence and intruded at a Cote D’or Ramp in their attempt to enter its Deep Decline.

The Ghana Armed Forces (GAF), in a separate statement, reported that the illegal miners fired at the military patrol team on Operation HALT II duties when they stopped them from accessing the area.

The military, in turn, returned fire in self defence, leading to the death of the seven illegal miners and one “seriously” injured.

The statement added that a soldier was injured by a pellet hit from a pump action gun and had been treated.

The GAF troops were able to retrieve six pump action BB cartridges.

Meanwhile, the Government has expressed deep regret over the deaths, and President John Dramani Mahama ordered an immediate investigation to determine the circumstances surrounding the clashes and ensure that any individual found to have acted unlawfully was brought to justice.

GNA