Shootings: Any Loss of Life Is Frankly Unacceptable- AngloGold Ashanti
The leadership of AngloGold Ashanti Ghana Limited has expressed regrets about the circumstances that claimed the lives of some illegal miners at its Obuasi mine.
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.
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, 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 the process is underway for the government to investigate the incident.
The government of Ghana has assured that anyone found to have acted unlawfully are in the tragic incident will be brought to justice.
Among the delegation of AGA that paid the visit to the Manhyia Palace 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
