The Chief Executive of Obuasi, Honorable Elijah Adansi-Bonah, has issued a strong warning to illegal miners operating under the AngloGold Ashanti Obuasi Mine concession to desist from such activities immediately.
The MCE issued this directive in his interactions with the media on the sidelines of the General Assembly meeting held in Obuasi on Wednesday, July 27, 2022.
It would be recalled that some illegal miners were caught on viral video running away with their loot after invading AngloGold Ashanti underground sites in Obuasi. Another 30 or so illegal miners were recently arrested in Obuasi by soldiers while they were allegedly mining a concession belonging to AngloGold Ashanti.
Obuasi MCE said the issue should be of national concern considering the importance of AngloGold Ashanti to the socio-economic development of Ghana.
"This issue is very sensitive. It does not concern AngloGold Ashanti or the Obuasi council, it is a national concern because the activities of illegal miners on AngloGold Ashanti concessions were one of the reasons why the company almost collapsed around 2014/2015." " he declared.
He mentioned that the company has contributed immensely to the development of Obuasi since 2019 when it was redeveloped because they feared that encroachment on their underground sites and concessions would jeopardize the efforts made by the government to revive the Obuasi mine.
He urged the people of Obuasi to take advantage of the numerous opportunities offered by AngloGold Ashanti in direct and indirect jobs and not create a situation where the Mine will consider leaving Obuasi.
Illegal mining issues have been a major concern for AngloGold Ashanti as the company has grappled with the activities of illegal miners at its Obuasi mine over the years.
In 2016, AngloGold Ashanti threatened to leave the country if the government was unable to stop the operations of illegal miners based on their concessions.
Speaking to the press in Accra, AngloGold Ashanti Managing Director Mr. Eric Asubonteng said the activities of illegal miners pose a threat to the safety and peace of the mine and affect the efficient operation of the Obuasi mine.
“Our concessions are not safe and if the activities of the illegal miners continue without the government doing anything about it, we will fend for ourselves.
"Illegal miners have looted large quantities of high-grade gold-bearing material for more than two months. In the process, they are causing significant damage to critical infrastructure," he said.
An inside source at AngloGold Ashanti disclosed to this reporter that the investors are currently not happy with the recent development regarding the invasion of the Obuasi mine by illegal miners and are working with stakeholders to intervene quickly to salvage the situation.
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