Member of Parliament (MP) for Nsawam Adoagyiri, Frank Annoh-Dompreh has chastised the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) government for the violent clash at a mining site in Obuasi, resulting in the death of nine (9) people.
The MP blamed the deaths on what he described as “irresponsible election comments” made by the NDC during the December 7, 2024 elections.
According to him, the actions of the NDC has brought Ghana to its lowest ebb, and he called on God’s salvation of the country.
“I am sick,” he said in reaction to the statement from the presidency ordering an investigation into the killings.
Eight persons are reported dead and several others injured after illegal miners clashed with a military detachment at one of the sites of AngloGold Ashanti Obuasi Mine.
While a communication from the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) put the number of deaths at seven (7), local sources in Obuasi said the death toll was eight (8), while a statement from the presidency put the death toll at nine (9).
The incident occurred around 11 p.m. when approximately 60 unauthorized individuals scaled the mine’s security fence at the Cote D’or Ramp, attempting to access the Deep Decline area.
The illegal miners were armed with locally manufactured rifles, pump-action guns, gas cylinders, knives, heavy-duty industrial bolt cutters, axes and machetes.
It said when the military patrol, deployed under Operation HALT II, intervened to prevent their entry, the miners opened fire and the soldiers returned fire in self-defence, leading to the fatalities and leaving one miner seriously injured.
