The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abu Jinapor, has made it clear that the fact that one is unemployed does not mean the person can illegally enter AngloGold Ashanti underground mine to dig for gold.
Such a conduct, according to him, frowns upon the laws of the country and that the government will take every step to ensure protection of the mine.
The minister gave the warning when he led a team from his ministry to visit Obuasi Mines, which was invaded by a group of illegal miners last week.
The illegal miners, popularly known as ‘galamseyers’, had gone to the underground mine of the mining conglomerate but were exposed by security.
When they realised that their cover had been blown, the illegal miners claimed to have been trapped underground, but those who eventually came out were arrested and later granted bail.
This development led to mayhem in the mining town, with the ‘galamseyers’ blocking major roads in Obuasi and burning lorry tyres. They also pelted military personnel protecting the mines with stones, but they (soldiers) did not retaliate.
Addressing the Ghana National Association of Small Scale Miners GNASSM) after a closed door meeting with the Obuasi Municipal and Obuasi East District Assemblies, Traditional leaders, Senior Management of the AGA and touring the northern concession of the mine, Jinapor disagreed with the idea of using unemployment as an excuse to cause illegality.
“The lack of employment can never be a justification for illegally attacking the concession of AGA and that I think I should make it abundantly clear,” he said.
He appealed to all the miners in Obuasi to respect the laws of the land.
“That is government’s position and we need to find alternative means of employment for the youth in Obuasi and we are working with AGA and other stakeholders to actualise this objective, including responsible and regulated community mining and so on and so forth “, he told them, adding that government is working to get the national economy back on track for life to get back to normalcy.
Mincing no words, Jinapor who was accompanied by his Deputy, Mireku Duker and the Chief Executive Officer for the Minerals Commission, Martin Ayisi, underscored the importance of AGA to the national economy of Ghana.
According to the minister, the AGA was put under care and maintenance sometime in 2016, primarily because of the same problem that is at play today. Jinapor said it was through the instrumentality of President Akufo-Addo and His Royal Majesty Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II and other stakeholders that the mine was revived.
“I want to underscore the importance of this asset to the economy of this country… I should say so forcefully that it is government’s policy that AngloGold’s concession be protected through any legal means”, he said.
The Minister also tasked the Deputy Minister responsible for Mines, George Mireku Duker to Chair a committee to, among others, examine the Internal Security Architecture of the company, as well as provide Alternative Livelihood opportunities for the teaming Youth through the creation of Community Mining Schemes (CMS) and ensure a healthy and closer collaboration among all stakeholders in the Municipality.
The management of AngloGold Ashanti thanked the Minister for his interest in the matter. They said all 86 illegal miners who went underground have come out and been handed over to the police.
They pledged their commitment to work with Government to ensure a healthy collaboration between the company and the community.
