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Tensions have escalated in the gold mining town of Obuasi in the Ashanti region, with students in both public and private schools temporarily suspended from classes as violence erupted following a deadly confrontation between illegal miners and military personnel.
The clash, which occurred over the weekend, resulted in the tragic deaths of at least eight miners and left several others with varying degrees of injury.
The unrest began in the early hours of Sunday when a group of illegal miners clashed with military guards at an abandoned concession of AngloGold Ashanti, a site previously left idle by the company.
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Sources indicate that the miners, who numbered over 300, were confronted by armed military personnel after breaching a security fence. A local miner, Baba, who narrowly escaped the incident, recounted the events leading to the deadly shooting, stating that the military commander opened fire after a brief exchange.
“After the commander received a call, he came back and opened fire on us. The shooting lasted for almost 30 minutes,” Baba said, expressing confusion over the military’s actions. According to witnesses, the miners had been pleading for peace during the encounter, as they were operating at an abandoned site rather than at active mining locations.
The Ghana Armed Forces responded, stating that the military fired in self-defence after the illegal miners opened fire on their troops. In retaliation, the miners took to the streets of Obuasi, setting fire to four vehicles belonging to subcontractors of the mine. One of the vehicles crashed into a nearby shop, destroying property valued at over 30,000 cedis.
Despite the heavy security presence in the town, locals expressed fear and concern about their safety. “It’s scary living here now. I woke up at dawn, and all of a sudden, I was confronted with this. You can’t have peace of mind here,” said a resident, Aduruwaa.
In response to the escalating violence, both public and private schools in Obuasi and Obuasi East municipalities have been closed for the next two days to ensure the safety of students and teachers.
The Director of Education for Obuasi Municipality, George Koomson, stated, “We can’t guarantee the safety of both learners and teachers, so we’ve agreed that for tomorrow [Monday] and possibly Tuesday, we will not be going to school. The contact hours will be missed, and recouping the lost hours will be difficult.”
The incident has sparked outrage among residents and local leaders. Samuel Aboagye, the 2024 National Democratic Congress (NDC) parliamentary candidate for Obuasi East, promised to investigate the military’s actions and hold those responsible accountable. “Nobody is above the laws of the country, even if you’re in uniform,” Aboagye stated.
President John Dramani Mahama has directed AngloGold Ashanti to cover the medical expenses of those injured in the incident and to fully investigate the events that led to the tragic loss of life. As tensions remain high in Obuasi, authorities are calling for calm while efforts are made to address the underlying issues fuelling the violence.
The mining community, already grappling with illegal mining activities, is now facing renewed challenges as tensions between the military, local miners, and the broader population threaten to destabilise the town further.
