A deadly confrontation between soldiers and illegal miners at the AngloGold Ashanti mine at Obuasi in the Ashanti Region, left seven people believed to be illegal miners dead.
The incident occurred on Saturday, January 18, 2025, when close to 60 miners supposedly armed with weapons, including “pump-action guns,” attempted to force their way into the AngloGold Ashanti-operated site.
According to a statement from the Ghana Armed Forces, the miners opened fire on soldiers when intercepted, prompting the military to retaliate in self-defense.
Locally, the news has been a major talking point for most media houses, however, the interest has caught on internationally. Here is how some international media covered the story:
Read the BBC’s report below
Soldiers shoot dead at least seven miners in Ghana
At least seven people have been killed in a clash with soldiers on duty at a mine in the central Ashanti region, according to the army.
The Ghana Armed Forces said about 60 illegal miners, armed with among others things “pump action guns”, had forced their way into the mine run by global giant AngloGold Ashanti and fired at the soldiers when they were intercepted.
This prompted the soldiers “to retaliate in self-defence”, leading to the deaths and injuries, it said in a statement.
A representative of the miners denied that they had been armed.
Following news of the deaths, there were protests in Obuasi town where several buses were set on fire.
Angry residents poured onto the company’s grounds following the killings, burning at least three vehicles and other equipment belonging to AngloGold Ashanti.
President John Mahama has ordered investigations into the matter, saying anyone found to have acted unlawfully will be brought to justice.
A statement from the presidency indicated that eight people had died.
We are poisoning ourselves’: Ghana gold rush sparks environmental disaster
The government has asked AngloGold Ashanti to cover the medical expenses of the injured and the burial costs, while requiring security agencies to ensure peace in the area.
The company said the situation had since calmed down and it was working closely with the authorities.
It said its main concern was “the safety and health of our employees and those in our community” who were affected by the incident.
The local chairman of the Ghana National Association of Small Scale Miners, Kofi Adams, was quoted by the Reuters news agency as saying that the violence was “unprecedented”.
He said that nine people had died and 14 severely injured adding that it was “difficult to understand why it had happened”.
In the past, he said, warning shots had been fired to ward off intruders. He also disputed the allegation by the military that the people had been armed.
The army said the “illegal miners were wielding locally manufactured rifles, pump action guns” and other weapons. It said it had a duty to defend itself, innocent civilians and property, including by using lethal force.
There have been tensions between AngloGold Ashanti and residents who accuse them of exploiting mineral resources without doing much to develop the area or create jobs.
Some local small-scale mining associations have been asking to be given some of the company’s mining concessions.
The company insists it has been doing a lot for the local communities.
On Monday, some schools built and managed by the company in the area announced a two-day shutdown following the disturbances.
There have been several conflicts between security officers and mining communities in the past, but the situation has been exacerbated by the country’s current economic problems.
Ghana is going through its worst economic crisis in a generation with high public debt, high inflation and unemployment.
Amid the economic crisis, there has been a rise in small-scale mining, including unregulated sites that have been accused of having a devastating impact on the environment.
Read the Reuters report below
At least seven people killed by army at Ghana’s AngloGold Ashanti mine
A Ghanaian small-scale miners’ association on Sunday said soldiers killed nine unarmed people at an AngloGold Ashanti (AU.N), opens new tab mine on Saturday night, while the army said seven illegal miners had been killed in a firefight.
Kofi Adams, local chairman of the Ghana National Association of Small Scale Miners, told Reuters that nine people had been killed and fourteen severely injured in the incident at the Obuasi gold mining site in the West African country’s Ashanti Region.
He said the people had not been armed.
Earlier, Ghana’s armed forces said that about 60 illegal miners carrying locally manufactured rifles and other weapons breached the mine’s security fence at around 11:00 pm (2300 GMT) on Saturday and fired on a military patrol deployed there, leading to a shootout.
“This is unprecedented (and) it’s difficult to understand why this happened,” Adams said, noting that in the past, trespassers on the site had been scared off with warning shots.
Ghana’s President John Dramani Mahama ordered an immediate investigation into the incident, the presidency said in a statement on Sunday, calling it “tragic”.
The government has asked AngloGold Ashanti to cover the medical expenses of the injured and the cost of burials, the presidency’s statement said.
AngloGold Ashanti could not immediately be reached for comment.
The Johannesburg-listed miner owns the Iduapriem and Obuasi mines in southern Ghana. The two mines produced more than 490,000 ounces of gold last year.
File photo of some illegal miners
How Arise News Nigeria report the news:
At Least Seven Dead In Clash Between Illegal Miners, Soldiers At AngloGold Ashanti Mine In Ghana
Clash between soldiers and illegal miners at AngloGold Ashanti mine has left seven dead, sparking protests in Obuasi.
At least seven people have been killed in a violent confrontation between soldiers and illegal miners at a site in the central Ashanti region of Ghana, according to the Ghana Armed Forces.
The incident occurred when around 60 miners, armed with weapons including “pump action guns,” attempted to force their way into an AngloGold Ashanti-operated mine.
The miners opened fire on the soldiers when intercepted, prompting the military to retaliate in self-defense, resulting in fatalities and injuries, the army stated in a press release.
However, a representative of the miners denied claims that the miners were armed, disputing the military’s version of events.
Following the deaths, protests erupted in Obuasi, the town near the mine. Angered residents stormed the grounds of AngloGold Ashanti, setting at least three vehicles and other equipment ablaze. Several buses were also torched during the unrest.
In response to the violence, President John Mahama has ordered a full investigation. He assured that anyone found guilty of unlawful conduct will face justice. The presidency’s statement confirmed that eight people had died, despite earlier reports citing seven fatalities.
The government has instructed AngloGold Ashanti to cover the medical expenses of the injured and burial costs for the deceased. Security agencies have been deployed to ensure peace in the area.
The company has reported that the situation has since calmed, and it is collaborating with authorities on the ongoing investigation. A spokesperson emphasized the company’s primary concern for the safety and health of its employees and the affected community members.
Kofi Adams, the local chairman of the Ghana National Association of Small Scale Miners, called the violence “unprecedented.” Speaking to Reuters, Adams said that nine people had died and 14 had been severely injured.
He expressed confusion over the escalation of the situation, stating that in previous confrontations, warning shots had been fired to deter intruders.
The Ghana Armed Forces reiterated that the illegal miners were armed with locally made rifles, pump action guns, and other weapons, and insisted it had a duty to protect itself, civilians, and property, including through the use of lethal force if necessary.
Tensions between AngloGold Ashanti and local residents have been building for some time. Many accuse the company of exploiting mineral resources without adequately contributing to the region’s development or creating jobs.
Some small-scale mining associations have called for a share of the company’s mining concessions.
In response, AngloGold Ashanti maintains that it has contributed significantly to the local communities, including through infrastructure projects and employment.
The unrest is also a reflection of broader tensions in Ghana, where the country is grappling with a severe economic crisis marked by high inflation, public debt, and unemployment.
The crisis has led to a surge in small-scale mining, including illegal and unregulated operations that have been criticized for their harmful environmental impact.
As part of the fallout from the violence, some schools built and managed by AngloGold Ashanti in the area have shut down for two days, following the disturbances. ‘
How India Today reported the news:
7 illegal miners killed in shootout with army in Ghana gold mine
Seven illegal miners died after they breached a gold mine’s security fence carrying rifles and other weapons and engaged in a shootout with the country’s military in the Ashanti region.
Ghana’s armed forces said about 60 illegal miners carrying locally manufactured rifles breached the mine’s security fence and fired on a military patrol deployed there, leading to a shootout.
A Ghanaian small-scale miners’ association on Sunday said soldiers killed nine unarmed people at an AngloGold Ashanti mine on Saturday night, while the army said seven illegal miners had been killed in a firefight.
Kofi Adams, local chairman of the Ghana National Association of Small Scale Miners, told Reuters that nine people had been killed and fourteen severely injured in the incident at the Obuasi gold mining site in the West African country’s Ashanti Region.
JKB/AE
Watch the latest compilation of Twi news below: