Small-Scale Miners in Obuasi demand concession from government within one week
The Artisanal Small-Scale Miners Association in Obuasi has given the government, AngloGold Ashanti (AGA) Obuasi Mine, and the National Chief Imam a one-week deadline to secure an approved mining site for its members.
The Association has warned that it will be compelled to take matters into its own hands if authorities fail to address their concerns within the stipulated timeframe.
This ultimatum is in response to the January 18, 2025, incident in which nine residents were fatally shot by military officers guarding the AGA concession.
Addressing journalists in Obuasi, Eugene Annan, the Association’s Secretary, expressed disappointment over the lack of progress since the tragedy.
He recalled that the National Chief Imam, Sheikh Osman Nuhu Sharubutu, had visited the bereaved families and pledged to engage AGA in a peaceful dialogue.
“The National Chief Imam, His Eminence Dr. Sheikh Osman Nuhu Sharubutu, came to Obuasi to console the families and promised to speak to AGA to resolve the issue. AGA promised to give a concession to a small-scale miners association to work, but up to now, we have not heard anything from them,” he said.
Mr. Annan also alleged continued intimidation of their members by security personnel stationed around the mine.
It is during the tenure of Mr. Emmanuel Baidoo as sustainability manager of AngloGold Ashanti that military personnel have been allowed to fire gunshots arbitrarily in our community, he claimed.
Moreover, despite persistent appeals, AGA has failed to communicate a clear timeline for allocating a concession to the miners.
Our concern is that AGA has not allocated a concession for us to work, and our chairman has stated that there has been no communication from them.
Hence, there is no allocated area for small-scale miners to operate in Obuasi. We are appealing to the government and stakeholders in Obuasi and Ananom to intervene.
We are issuing AGA a one-week ultimatum to engage in a comprehensive dialogue regarding when and where we can secure a place to work. Otherwise, we will be forced to take alternative measures, he stressed.
