Military officers in Obuasi yesterday used warning shots to disperse a group of illegal mining protesters who were demanding the release of their colleagues detained by the police.
The police apprehended and detained some 48 illegal miners known as galamseyers after they emerged from an AngloGold Ashanti (AGA) mine shaft on Tuesday afternoon.
They were claimed to be among 300 galamseyers who entered the mine shaft illegally in quest of gold reserves.
Colleagues and family members of the galamseyers stormed the police station in response to the arrests, calling for the release of the people being held.
While demonstrating and expressing their frustration, the demonstrators smashed the window glass of a vehicle that was used to transport the illegal miners to the police station.
Armed military soldiers were then dispatched to the area to scatter the unruly youth, who had then started shouting war songs.
Before finally directing the charged youth away from the streets, the military men fired a string of shots.
According to reports, Obuasi was experiencing a boiling point of stress at the time this report was filed. The town was being patrolled by soldiers.
AngloGold Response
The AGA management has, however, denied reports that the illegal miners were confined in the mine shaft, insisting that the miners were free to leave the area on foot using the mine’s existing ramp.
“Unauthorised persons underground are able to exit on foot, using the existing ramp through the main access of this mining area. No person underground has been confined in any way, and the main exit ramp from the mine remains open.
“Obuasi Gold Mine’s management team has notified the relevant authorities and public security services and is working closely with them,” it added.
FROM I.F. Joe Awuah Jnr., Kumasi