ACCRA, Jan 20 (NNN-AGENCIES) — At least eight illegal miners were killed in Ghana overnight after clashes with soldiers guarding the AngloGold Ashanti mining site in central Obuasi, the army said.
Around 60 miners, armed with rifles, machetes and pump-action guns had forced their way past the security fence at the mine late Saturday night, said an army statement.
They opened fire when an army patrol intercepted them, “prompting the soldiers to retaliate in self-defence”, the statement added.
“The shootout resulted in the death of seven miners on the spot, while another who sustained critical injuries died later at the hospital.”
One soldier was treated after being hit by pellets from a gun.
During the clashes, four vehicles belonging to the mining company were set on fire, the army statement added.
A statement from the office of Ghana’s President John Mahama said he had ordered an investigation “to determine the circumstances surrounding the clashes and ensure that any individuals found to have acted unlawfully are brought to justice”.
Mahama also ordered AngloGold Ashanti to cover the medical expenses of the wounded and to “facilitate burial arrangements for the deceased”.
An AngloGold Ashanti internal security document bans company vehicles from venturing into the town of Obuasi, advising staff to avoid wearing company uniforms there for security reasons.
Ghana, Africa’s leading gold producer, has long been plagued by conflicts between the military and youth in mining communities.
Unemployment and economic challenges often exacerbate tensions, with residents frequently accusing authorities and companies of neglecting their welfare.
Security agencies have been deployed to restore calm in Obuasi — one of the oldest gold mining towns in the world — and implement measures to prevent similar incidents. — NNN-AGENCIES
