The Ghana Armed Forces have revealed that the illegal miners fired first at soldiers who tried to stop them from accessing Anglo Gold Ashanti mines.
According to the GAF statement, their troops returned fire in self-defence leading to the death of seven illegal miners and one seriously injured.
Their statement added that the illegal miners were wielding locally manufactured rifles, pump action guns, gas cylinders, knives, heavy-duty industrial bolt cutters, axes and machetes.
The Ghana Armed Forces statement reads, “On Saturday 18 January 2025 at about 2300 hours (11:00 pm), illegal miners numbering about 60 breached the Anglo Gold Ashanti mines security fence and intruded at Cote D’or Ramp. The aim of the illegal miners was to enter the Deep Decline of the mines.
The military patrol deployed on Operation HALT I1 duties at the mentioned location were fired upon by the illegal miners when the soldiers tried to stop them from accessing the Deep Decline. The illegal miners were wielding locally manufactured rifles, pump action guns, gas cylinders, knives, heavy-duty industrial bolt cutters, axes and machetes”, it added.
GAF further detailed, “The troops returned fire in self-defence. The shootout led to the death of seven illegal miners and one seriously injured. The remaining illegal miners bolted away, A soldier who was also hit by pellets from a pump action gun and got injured has been treated. Six pump action BB cartridges were retrieved”.
The Ghana Armed Forces(GAF) further reiterated that military personnel on authorised duty have the right to defend themselves, innocent civilians, and property, including the use of lethal force, if necessary to preserve life.
See the statement below:
