At least seven people were killed on Saturday night during a violent clash between soldiers and illegal miners at the Obuasi gold mining site in Ghana’s Ashanti Region. The Ghana National Association of Small-Scale Miners claimed that nine people had died and fourteen others were injured, while the army reported a firefight with about 60 illegal miners armed with locally made rifles.
Kofi Adams, the local chairman of the association, stated that the victims were unarmed and had not posed a threat, highlighting the severity of the incident. In contrast, the armed forces stated that the miners breached the mine’s security fence and initiated gunfire, leading to the deadly exchange.
Ghana’s President, John Mahama, has ordered an immediate investigation into the event, which he described as a tragedy. Additionally, the government has instructed AngloGold Ashanti to cover the medical expenses for the injured and the funeral costs for the deceased.