AngloGold Shooting: You Can’t Barge Into My House and Claim a Room Because You Need Shelter – Otumfuo

The King of the Asante Kingdom, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II has described as unacceptable, attempts by illegal miners to forcefully take over some parts of the Obuasi mine legitimately granted to AngloGold Ashanti Ghana Limited.

This was during a courtesy visit by the Management of AngloGold Ashanti to the Manhyia Palace on January 24, 2025, to brief Otumfuo on the recent shootout at the Obuasi mine that left at least seven illegal miners dead.

Otumfuo likened the situation to barging into someone’s legally acquired house and demanding a room to satisfy one’s need for shelter.

“It is not acceptable for people to take the law into their own hands to go and disturb legitimate business. AngloGold and Obuasi are intertwined. The community relies on the mining company and the mining company is there for the community so that is unacceptable.

“People cannot just say that because they have to eat they have to go to the mine. No. That cannot be. We are not living in a banana republic. The law must be obeyed. If I’m living in my house here and this lease has been given to me, someone cannot just walk in to tell me he wants a place to live and therefore he’s coming to live in my house.”

Cause
The Asantehene indicated that these emanate from the diversion of an agreed portion of the Obuasi mine meant for the community folks nine years ago by some officials.

“I recall in 2016 when this issue came up, I remember saying that we should cede a portion of the 60 acres to community miners at that time. Even though AngloGold honoured its part, the portion however didn’t go to the people it was meant for. This issue has been lingering and the people are grieving over it as most of them have been left unemployed.”

Govt Engagement
The King thus promised to engage the government about the lingering issue when the nominated Minister for Lands and Natural Resources takes office.

“When a Minister for Lands and Natural Resources is sworn in we will have a very candid and thorough meeting with the President and the Minister to see the way forward in relation to dealing with that.”

The engagement, according to the King will review how to settle those who have been rendered unemployed by the activities of AGA for the needed measures to sustain them.

“So much we have to look at it to see how best we can incorporate all these miners. How can we bring them all into the mainstream? If we can allocate portions of concessions to the gang leader to undertake sustainable mining with their gang and look at how to buy the gold from them.”

Implication
Otumfuo foresees that such invasions have the propensity to cast a dark shadow on the country’s investment fortunes and discourage potential investors.

“If we are not very careful, this news could go out that if you invest in Ghana, you are distracted by illegal miners. We won’t be able to attract any investors.”

He therefore believes everything must be done to protect both investors and their investments.

“Much as we want investments, we also have an obligation to protect investors for people to appreciate that if you go to Ghana your investments are protected.”

Proposed Solutions to Hostility
The Asantehene in his remarks proposed some measures to deal with the constant invasion and disapproval of the community folks.

His Majesty suggested enhanced community relations.
“Your community relations must be heightened so that they will have a clear understanding of what you are doing. Make them understand your operations and the flow of revenue and royalties chain so that they don’t think the money is there to develop Obuasi overnight.”

He also proposed that they adopt Newmont Ghana Gold Limited’s Corporate Social Responsibility strategy which entails allotting US$1 per ounce of gold sold and 1% of net profit from the Ahafo Mine into a Community Development Fund for sustainable community development.

This, he said, comes alongside the royalties and can be used to build schools, hospitals, roads etc.

“Another thing you have to look at when full-scale production resumes is the form of what Newmont is doing where you set aside a part of an ounce in the form of money and then form a development foundation together with the community and you engage them to decide the developmental projects to use that fund for.

“Newmont has done it and it has been very successful. Make sure you involve the community in some form of foundation where you plan development programmes together. Let them nominate some people from the community who will be part of that.”

The King believes that the community folks will be more appreciative of the company and its activities if these are adopted.

Shooting Incident
At least seven persons were reported to have lost their lives last week when they trespassed the Obuasi mines of the company.

They were among a group numbering about 60 who attempted to forcibly gain unauthorized access to AngloGold Ashanti Ghana Limited mine infrastructure on January 18.

According to the military, the intruders were wielding locally manufactured rifles, pump action guns, gas cylinders, knives, heavy-duty industrial bolt cutters, axes and machetes.

“The troops returned fire in self-defence. The shootout led to the death of seven illegal miners and one seriously injured. The remaining illegal miners bolted away. A soldier who was also hit by pellets from a pump action gun and got injured has been treated,” it said in a statement.

It noted that six pump action BB cartridges were retrieved.

Update
Briefing the King of the Asante Kingdom, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II about the incident on January 24, 2025, at the Manhyia Palace, Stewart Bailey, the Chief Sustainability Officer and Corporate Affairs of AGA, sympathized with the bereaved family.

“First and most important thing to say is our deep-felt condolences to the people who were affected who were deceased or injured in that event. Any loss of life is frankly unacceptable, and we will wait for processes to play out.”

In accordance with the directive from President John Dramani Mahama, AGA said it was progressing with absorbing the medical expenses of the injured as well as the funeral cost of the dead.

“The President HE Mahama has directed us to take care of the health expenses of those injured and the funeral expenses of those deceased. That is something we have made progress with and will continue to make sure till we discharge all that obligation after the President’s directive.”

Meanwhile, he said a process is underway for the government to investigate the incident.

Interim Measures
In his briefing, he said the mine had been placed on limited operation until the threat to their employees and community members minimizes.

“We take that very seriously and with the mine on limited operation, we can reduce the movement of people and reduce risk and so we did that immediately on Sunday and that persisted all through yesterday {January 23} when we managed to have the shift changed and start a staggered resumption towards the coming days.”

Galmsey Threat
Further in his address, Bailey identified illegal mining popularly known as galamsey as a significant threat to both large-scale and small-scale mining.

“Illegal Mining as opposed to artisanal mining is a substantial threat to large-scale mining and small-scale mining alike in Ghana and on the continent and it is something that we are very eager to continue to engage with stakeholders to find a lasting solution that will be acceptable to the widest range of stakeholders possible.”

This, he indicated, cannot be effectively achieved without the involvement of the Asantehene.

“Your Majesty, we seek your support and we thank you for your support thus far.”

Support
He expressed appreciation for wide support it had garnered from key stakeholders including the Palace, government and the National Chief Imam after the incident.

“We have received excellent support from the government through the National Security and Coordinator, through the Minerals Commission and through various stakeholders’ meetings we have had this week. We are very pleased that there’s been a very supportive and in our view, it was a very responsible posture taken to get this important mine back on its feet.

“We met yesterday {January 23} with the Chief Imam for Ghana in Accra. He assured of his support in creating and deepening a dialogue with our stakeholders to ensure that we can have a lasting peace from this tragedy. That we can have a meaningful and improved way forward with our stakeholders.”

Delegation
Among the delegation were Baso Sangqu, the SVP Group Sustainability and Corporate Affairs; ⁠Terry Strong, the SVP Africa; and Eric Asubonteng, the SVP Africa Non-Operates Joint Venture.

The rest were ⁠Emmanuel Baidoo, the Snr Manager of Community Relations in Africa, ⁠Edmund Oduro Agyei, the Community Relations Manager, ⁠Keziah Enyan, the Communications specialist and ⁠Emmanuel Massey, the Supt Stakeholder Engagement.

Source: opemsuo.com/Hajara Fuseini