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Eight individuals have been confirmed dead following a violent confrontation between small-scale miners and military personnel guarding the AngloGold Ashanti (AGA) Obuasi Mine in the Ashanti Region.
The incident, which occurred late last night, has plunged the Obuasi community into mourning and heightened tensions.
Eyewitness accounts reveal that the small-scale miners, reportedly armed, stormed the mine premises at midnight, initiating a deadly exchange of gunfire with soldiers stationed at the site.
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The motive behind the attack remains unclear, but the aftermath has left the community reeling.
The clash not only resulted in fatalities but also left several others injured, with the wounded receiving treatment at the Obuasi Government Hospital and the AGA Hospital.
In the wake of the violence, angered members of the small-scale mining community have taken to the streets, setting fires, vandalising property, and torching four vehicles, including company buses. “They are burning tires in the road, and they have burnt some of the AGA buses,” said Eric Gyamfi, an eyewitness. “The galamsey boys [small-scale miners] are demonstrating because some of their colleagues have been shot dead. So they are destroying things.”
The incident has left residents in fear as the situation remains volatile. Authorities have yet to release a detailed report on what triggered the attack, but security personnel are working to restore calm and prevent further violence.
As investigations into the deadly confrontation continue, the Obuasi community grapples with the loss of lives and growing uncertainty. Calls for swift action to address the underlying tensions between the small-scale miners and AngloGold Ashanti have intensified, with many demanding a long-term resolution to the ongoing conflict.
