National Coalition on Mining condemns killing of citizens by state securities

By Stanley Senya

Accra, Jan. 30, GNA – The National Coalition in Mining (NCOM) has condemned the recent killing of citizens by state security operatives at the Newmont (NGGL) Ahafo South Gold Mine in Ntotroso and the AngloGold Ashanti (AGA) mine in Obuasi.

In a statement copied to the Ghana News Agency in Accra, NCOM said soldiers guarding AGA’s concession in Obuasi on January 8 shot and killed nine suspected small-scale miners who allegedly breached portions of AngloGold Ashanti’s Obuasi concession.

It said about 14 others sustained varying degrees of injury and are currently receiving treatment.

Also, a week earlier, three young men were killed at the NGGL Ahafo concession, allegedly for trespassing and stealing.

The statement said the claims of both the Police and Military that the killings took place during a confrontation had been challenged by survivors.

“These tragic incidents which have been widely condemned are the latest in the increasing role of state security operatives in violence against citizens in mining communities on behalf of private mining companies”, it said

It said from Ntotroso, Ketu South, Talensi, Ada Songor through to Obuasi, there were harrowing tales of state security being used to brutalise communities on behalf of corporate interest resulting in deaths and the injuring of many.

Therefore, after a sustained campaign by NCOM it believed that the state must do more to protect its citizens, especially those living in marginalised mining communities.

The Coalition called on the Ministries of Defence and Interior to oversee the immediate withdrawal of the military and police from all mining sites across the country, saying, their presence had caused more harm than good, and led to killings and community agitations.

It said Ministries of Defence and Interior must make a full public disclosure of the terms on which the security services had been deployed around the mines and the rules of engagement under which they operate and use their arms.

“The government of Ghana must respect its commitments to international human rights protocols by ensuring that communities are protected from all forms of harm, including from state security agencies”, it said.

The statement added that NCOM believed that every Ghanaian deserved to live in a safe and secure environment while going about their duties.

GNA