The Communications Director for Ghana National Association of Small Scale Miners, Abdul Razak Alhassan, has urged politicians to take their hands off mining issues so that stakeholders will understand the dynamics and solve the problem once and for all.
His comments come following a clash between a youth group of illegal miners and military personnel at the AngloGold Ashanti mining site in Obuasi on Saturday, 18 January 2025, which resulted in the deaths of about nine individuals.
This issue has drawn a lot of reactions from a section of the public including stakeholders.
While the President has ordered an investigation into the matter, some persons have also alleged that these youths were incited by some media persons.
Read Also: President orders immediate investigation into violent clash at AngloGold Ashanti
Speaking on Atinka TV’s morning show, Ghana Nie with Ama Gyenfa Ofosu-Darkwa, Abdul Razak Alhassan said although the miners did not have any right to invade the concession, it was not right for them to be killed the way they were killed.
He questioned why people should be killed in that manner while on their way to look for something to survive on.
What the real issue is
The Small Scale Miner said a concession that was supposed to be given to the youth at Obuasi was shared amongst politicians during the previous administration.
Giving a vivid background into the matter, Abdul Razak Alhassan recalled that around 2014, the youth attacked AngloGold Ashanti Mines, demanding jobs.
“This informed the then NDC-Government to bring all stakeholders together to look at better ways to address the matter”.
To address the matter, he said the Movement Committee, comprising Ghana National Association of Small Scale Miners, Minerals Commission, Water Resources, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), AngloGold Ashanti, the security and leadership of the youth group was formed.
Following a peaceful consultation, Abdul Razak Alhassan said AngloGold Ashnati agreed to shed off about 60 percent of its land to the small-scale mining sector.
He said to pass through due process, the miners were kept in groups and under cooperatives so that they could all work, adding that the Minerals Commission started the process and got to an advanced stage.
Sooner than later, there was a change in government.
Abdul Razak Alhassan said when the NPP-Government took over, the whole process was abolished and the 60 percent of the lands meant to be shared amongst the small-scale miners were also shared amongst the politicians.
Following a series of events, he said the youth in the area occasionally rise and attack the mines while the leadership of the country tried to massage the whole issue while it continued to drag till date.
He said the Politicians did not also return the 60 percent to AngloGold Ashanti, encouraging the public to visit the Minerals Commission to verify the companies or owners possessing those concessions.
“We appeal to the politicians to take their hands off these mining issues, so that the stakeholders in the industry who understand and know the dynamics can solve the issues once and for all. When you look at the deaths, nine people died, why should we sit down for our own people to be killed this way?” he stated.
Ghana| Atinkaonline.com | Porcia Oforiwaa
