Soldiers Kill at Least Seven People at AngloGold Ashanti Mine in Ghana

A small-scale miners’ group in Ghana has accused soldiers of killing nine unarmed people at AngloGold Ashanti’s Obuasi mine on Saturday night. However, the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) confirmed seven deaths and claimed the incident was a firefight with illegal miners.

Kofi Adams, chairman of the Ghana National Association of Small-Scale Miners, said nine people died and 14 were seriously injured during the clash at the Obuasi mine in the Ashanti Region. He said the victims were unarmed and called the incident unprecedented.

This has never happened before. In the past, trespassers were scared off with warning shots,” Adams said.

The military disputed this account. It said about 60 illegal miners armed with rifles, pump-action guns, and machetes broke through the mine’s security fence at around 11:00 p.m. A statement from Brigadier General Eric Aggrey-Quarshie said the miners fired at soldiers patrolling the site, forcing them to fire back in self-defence.

The shootout led to the deaths of seven illegal miners and left one seriously injured,” the statement said.

A soldier was also injured but has been treated. Six pump-action cartridges and other weapons were recovered from the scene. Ghana’s President, John Mahama, called the incident tragic and ordered an immediate investigation. He also directed AngloGold Ashanti to pay medical bills for the injured and cover burial costs for the deceased.

AngloGold Ashanti, which owns the Obuasi and Iduapriem mines, has not commented. The two mines produced over 490,000 ounces of gold in 2024. This incident is reported to be one of the deadliest clashes involving illegal miners at the Obuasi site, which is often targeted by trespassers searching for gold.

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