How Invaders Killed AngloGold Obuasi Mine Worker in 2016
In February 2016, an unfortunate incident transpired at the AngloGold Obuasi mine which partly accounted for a four-year hiatus in the operations of the mine.
On the 6th day of February that year, a staff identified as John Owusu was killed when a riot broke out at the mine.
Reuters reports that Owusu lost his life during a dispute involving artisanal miners at the Obuasi site. The miners, who were demanding access to a larger section of the mine, saw their protests escalate into a riot.
According to Stewart Bailey, the Chief Sustainability Officer and Corporate Affairs, that was the first time an invasion had occurred since the company’s operation in 2004.
He referenced the incident while briefing the Occupant of the Golden Stool, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II about a recent invasion by illegal miners at the mine, which saw at least seven lives perishing in a shootout with the army.
“In 2016, I know that my predecessors spent much time in this room seeking your support and intercession. You know that the invasion of illegal miners at that time caused us to stop the mine when our colleague, John Owusu was killed for the first time of invasion.”
The company, headquartered in South Africa, did not resume operations until four years later.
“We very happily celebrated the reopening of that mine in 2020 when we pulled the first gold and although we’ve had a few stops, we persevered, and we will continue to persevere to make this mine live up to the great promise.”
He however ruled out illegal mining, calling it a threat to their operations and expressing its resolve to find a lasting solution to it.
“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.
The Management of AngloGold Ashanti Ghana Limited was at the Manhyia Palace on January 24, 2025, to brief Otumfuo on the recent shootout at the Obuasi mine.
Among the delegation were Ambassador 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
