Clash Between Military and Small-Scale Miners Result in Eight Deaths

Clash Between Military and Small-Scale Miners Result in Eight Deaths

  • A clash between small-scale miners and military men guarding a site belonging to AngloGold Ashanti has led to casualties
  • The incident reportedly happened when the illegal miners stormed the mining site and launched an attack on the soldiers
  • The Ghana Armed Forces has released a statement explaining the incident and the events that led to the loss of eight lives
  • In an exclusive interview with YEN.com.gh, an Environmental activist gave insights into the matter

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Eight people reportedly lost their lives in a violent clash that occurred at a mining site belonging to AngloGold Ashanti in Obuasi.

The tragic incident happened on January 18, when a group of small-scale miners reportedly besieged the Obuasi mine at night.

Clash, Military, Small-Scale Miners, Death, Galamsey, Illegal Mining
Eight lives are lost in a shootout between the military and illegal miners at an AngloGold Ashanti site in Obuasi.
Source: Getty Images

Reports have indicated that the group visited the site fully armed and opened fire. Military officers guarding the mine responded with shots.

At the end of the confrontation, eight people had been killed. Properties belonging to mine workers, including cars, were also reportedly destroyed.

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Ghana Armed Forces speaks on miner deaths

The Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) has reacted to the attack on its members.

In a press statement released on Sunday, January 19, 2024, the GAF stated that about 60 illegal miners intruded on the AngloGold Ashanti mining site in an attempt to enter the mines' Deep Decline.

"The military patrol deployed on Operation Halt II duties at the mentioned location were fired upon by the illegal miners when the soldiers tried to stop them from accessing the Deep Decline. The illegal miners were wielding locally manufactured rifles, pump action guns, gas cylinders, knives, heavy duty industrial bolt cutters, axes and machetes."

The troop in self-defence opened fire on the illegal miners, resulting in seven deaths, all illegal miners. One other illegal miner and a soldier were deeply injured; however, the soldier has been treated. The condition of the illegal miner is unknown.

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GAF further cautioned the public against attacking soldiers or military officers on authorised duty, stressing that they had every right to self-defence.

Sad but our lands need to be protected

Speaking exclusively to YEN.com.gh, an environmental activist, Rose Balami, highlighted the importance of protecting the country's natural resources against illegal mining.

"The issue of galamsey has become a thorn in the flesh. Looking at its prevalence, I think urgent steps should be taken to mitigate its impact because our water bodies are being destroyed and our lands too. Thatnotwistanding, I condemn the killings of the eight people," she said.

See the post below:

Netizens react to GAF's statement

Netizens who saw the press statement issued by the Ghana Armed Forces expressed mixed reactions in the comments section.

Many were unhappy about the response and called out the military, while others believed the illegal miners were out of line.

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@aboagyekann1 wrote:

"GHANA ARMED FORCES. All The statement Release inside the PRESS RELEASE is a lie? 100% lie."

@_NanaCwesi_ wrote:

"I have a few questions to ask: 1. How did the illegal miners manage to breach the security fence of a strategic site like the AngloGold Ashanti mines? What does this suggest about the effectiveness of the current security measures? 2. Are there any ongoing or planned?"

@edem_DemsLfc wrote:

"They shot at the soldiers and in retaliation, they got killed."

@Lechiboroni wrote:

"Kudos."

@asati2013 wrote:

"Is shot and kill the only way to de-excalate or disarm the threat?"

@amartious2000 wrote:

"Yes, you must defend yourselves, but the dead are too many to be called a few. Ghanaians life matter,pls."

@Coffiejunior3 wrote:

"Referring to the statement of the operation, how do you relate mining in water bodies to engaging with miners on a private mining concession. We need to address tge issue of our police and soldiers protecting private companies as i believe it is not their mandate."

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@pastor_mensah wrote:

"Fortification and Passive Defense was the best option rather than killing civilians. Build barriers, trenches, and other fortifications to slow or deter enemy advances without active combat, STOP killing civilians."

Mahama Orders Investigation Into Deadly Clash Between Soldiers and Illegal Miners, Leaving 7 Dead

President John Mahama has called for an investigation into the clash between illegal miners and soldiers stationed to protect AngloGold Ashanti Mines.

The violent confrontation, which occurred on the evening of Saturday, January 18, reportedly left at least seven illegal miners dead.

The government has also directed AngloGold Ashanti's management to cover the medical expenses of those injured during the incident.

Soldiers fire shots in Obuasi

YEN.com.gh also reported that military personnel were deployed to Obuasi after youths went on a reported rampage over the arrest of 48 of their colleagues.

The 48 people taken in by police were earlier trapped under a mining shaft they had entered illegally to allegedly steal the gold belonging to AngloGold Ashanti.

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When they were rescued, police detained them for unauthorised entry into the mining shaft, but the youths were allegedly fighting to have them released.

Proofread by Bruce Douglas, senior copy editor at YEN.com.gh

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Source: YEN.com.gh

Authors:
Jessie Ola-Morris avatar

Jessie Ola-Morris (Human-Interest Editor) Jessie Ola-Morris is a Human Interest editor at YEN.com.gh. She has over three years of experience in journalism. She graduated from the Ghana Institute of Journalism in 2022 with a Bachelor's degree in Communication Studies. Her journalism career started with myjoyonline.com, a subsidiary of The Multimedia Group Limited, where she worked as a writer. Jessie also previously served as a multimedia journalist for The Independent Ghana. In 2024, Jessie completed Google News Initiative News Lab courses in Advanced Digital Reporting and Fighting Misinformation. Email: jessie.ola-morris@yen.com.gh