President John Dramani Mahama has ordered for an immediate investigation to be conducted into the violent clashes between illegal miners and military personnel stationed at AngloGold Ashanti Mines.
Seven persons have been confirmed dead following the incident that occurred on Saturday, January 18, 2025, mine deaths around 11:00 PM.
It involved a group of over 60 illegal miners breaching the security fence in an attempt to access the mine’s Deep Decline area.
The Ghana Armed Forces issued a statement confirming that the illegal miners opened fire on personnel deployed to manage the situation, and so they were forced to defend themselves.
The President has since instructed that an investigation be conducted into the incident.
In a statement issued on January 19, 2025, by Felix Kwakye Ofosu, the acting spokesperson for the president, it was said that the president asked that anyone found to have acted unlawfully during the incident be held accountable.
“The government wishes to express deep regret over the tragic loss of up to eight (8) lives, said to be illegal miners, following a violent clash at a mining site in Obuasi.
“In response to the unfortunate incident, President John Dramani Mahama has ordered an immediate investigation to determine the circumstances surrounding the clashes and ensure that any individuals found to have acted unlawfully are brought to justice.”
Meanwhile, the government has asked the management of Anglo-Gold Ashanti to bear the medical expenses of the injured persons fully and to facilitate the burial arrangements for those who have lost their lives.
The security agencies have also been directed to take prompt action to restore peace in the area and implement measures to prevent similar occurrences.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
