Gov’t ‘Fights’ Military, AngloGold Over Killing Of 7 Galamseyers By Soldiers in Obuasi

The Government is on a collision course with the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) and AngloGold Ashanti (AGA) over a bloody incident at the Obuasi mine in which seven galamsey operators were killed by soldiers with many others injured.

The galamseyers breached the mining site in search of gold on Saturday night, resulting in a shootout with the military detachment deployed to secure the mine from illegal mining activities.

Following the incident, the government, the GAF, and AGA have released separate statements with each taking a strong position on the matter.

The government, however, has taken exception to the killings , and has taken the military and AGA to task. But, the military and AGA would not take any blame.

Soldiers fired in self defence
A statement from the GAF signed by the Director General, Public Relations , Brigadier General E. Aggrey-Quashie , said the military fired in self defence. “The illegal miners, armed with locally manufactured rifles, pump action guns, gas cylinders, knives, heavy-duty industrial bolt cutters, axes, and machetes, opened fire on the soldiers and in self-defence, the troops returned fire,” the statement stated.

The shootout led to the death of seven illegal miners, with one other seriously injured. The remaining miners fled the scene. “A soldier was also injured by pellets from a pump action gun and has since received treatment for his injuries,” the statement said.

It added that during the operation, six pump action BB cartridges were recovered.

Gov’t orders investigations
Just after the AGA statement was released, the government also issued a statement saying President John Dramani Mahama has asked the management of AGA to bear the cost of medical expenses of persons who sustained injuries in the clash at their mine.

Also, the company is expected to ensure that the seven people who died are buried.

The President has also ordered for an investigation to ensure that persons involved in any illegality is brought to book.

The statement from the presidency tasked the security agencies to ensure there is peace and that such an occurrence will not happen in the future.

AGA reacts
Then came a statement from AGA which was quiet on the government directives to the company .
The company stated that in the evening of January 18, a large group of armed illegal miners attempted to forcibly enter the fenced operational area in the northern section of the concession.
Security was mobilised to prevent the intrusion, leading to the tragic confrontation.

Management of the mine assured the public that the situation is calm and that they are collaborating closely with authorities to address the aftermath of the incident. “Our primary concern is the safety and health of all our employees and those in our community who have been directly impacted by this incident,” AngloGold Ashanti said in its statement.