The Minerals Commission has given the strongest indication yet for illegal miners still occupying the Obuasi concession, of AngloGold Ashanti, to evacuate the site or suffer ejection.
This comes on the back of the insistence of some of the informal miners not to relocate to the new site allocated by the Commission.
“I am not in the security service but eventually they will be moved. But unlike in those days that nobody was unsure whether they will be moved or not, I am sure they themselves know that they will definitely be moved,” the CEO of the Minerals Commission, Dr. Toni Aubynn stated.
The continuous stay of the informal miners has led to many altercations including the death of a Senior Manager, John Owusu and about 64 of the illegal miners.
A latest directive for the illegal miners to leave expired on Monday, October 10, 2016.
Dr. Toni Aubynn also explained to Citi Business News the defaulting miners would be treading risky paths if they continue to defy the order.
“We want them to comply with the directive since we do not want to cause any serious damage like what happened some months ago,” he stressed.
AngloGold Ashanti has been compelled to take numerous actions both mild and stern ones to get rid of the illegal miners at the Obuasi concession.
The recent involves a legal suit filed by the company at the World Bank’s International Centre for Settlement of Investment Dispute (ICSID) to compel government to get the issue settled.
Citi Business News understands the illegal miners amount to about 4000 while the new site being offered them can accommodate at least 9000 people.
Commenting on the subsequent plan on guarding the mining site, the Minerals Commission boss assured of government’s support where necessary.
“That site is for AngloGold Ashanti and we will take the necessary steps to protect the place…in any case long before the illegal miners went there, government security personnel were there. It is a shared responsibility and I am sure the company will take charge of the security and government is also ready if they seek for government’s support,” Dr. Aubynn added.
Join GhanaStar.com to receive daily email alerts of breaking news in Ghana. GhanaStar.com is your source for all Ghana News. Get the latest Ghana news, breaking news, sports, politics, entertainment and more about Ghana, Africa and beyond.
