Asantehene’s Proposed Solutions to Obuasi Hostility Towards AngloGold

Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, Asantehene has devised and proposed pivotal corporate strategies for mining giant AngloGold Ashanti Ghana Limited to deal with the constant invasion and disapproval of the Obuasi community folks.

His Majesty first 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 told the leadership of the company during a courtesy visit on Friday.

The Monarch 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.

Source: opemsuo.com/Hajara Fuseini