Rampaging youth destroy property in Obuasi over detention of illegal miners

Property running into thousands of Ghana cedis have been destroyed by some irate youth of Obuasi who went on a rampage on Tuesday, May 30 to protest the detention of some illegal miners.

The illegal miners were arrested for entering an underground concession belonging to AngloGold Ashanti, Obuasi Mine.

The illegal miners, numbering about 48, who were being held at the Central Police Station were later released.

Over 200 illegal miners on Monday, May 29 were believed to have been trapped in the northern areas of the mine where no active mining has been done for years.

The mining firm said the unauthorised persons purported to have been trapped could exit on foot via the existing ramp through the main access to the area.

“No person underground has been confined in any way and the main exit from the mine remains opened,” the statement clarified.

“Intrusion of illegal miners into underground areas remain a significant dangerous activity and AngloGold Ashanti Ghana is working alongside authorities to ensure that only authorised mine personnel and contractors can access underground work areas,” the statement concluded.