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Srinivasan Venkatakrishnan, AngloGold Ashanti Ghana CEO
AngloGold Ashanti Ghana has expressed grave concern about the continuous invasion of its mining site at Obuasi by illegal miners.
In a statement issued yesterday, the company said if allowed to continue, illegal mining on parts of the concession and vandalism of property could threaten the long-term viability of the mine and AngloGold Ashanti Ghana’s ability to continue its feasibility study and maintain critical services which serve both the operations and surrounding communities.
“AngloGold Ashanti Ghana’s aim is to prove the viability of a project to turn Obuasi Gold Mine into a long-life, modern, world-class mining operation that will provide foreign investment, high-quality direct and indirect employment, taxes and foreign exchange revenue to Ghana.
“It has invested significant resources into this project in recent years. It is crucial that the Government of Ghana works with the company to resolve the current illegal occupation of the site by ‘galamseyers, which not only poses a direct threat to the safety of employees, their families and other community members, but also threatens the viability of Obuasi and jeopardizes its long-term contribution to Ghana’s economy.
The immediate priority should be to re-establish law and order.”
Following engagement between AngloGold Ashanti CEO, Srinivasan Venkatakrishnan and the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources and other high ranking government officials, the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources made committment to send a delegation of senior government officials to examine illegal mining at Obuasi Gold Mine yesterday, the company reported.
“AngloGold Ashanti Ghana will continue to urge authorities at a national and local level to assist in upholding the law and returning safety and security to the site before further injuries or further loss of life occur. Unless we have certainty that our employees are able to work in a safe environment, we will have no choice but to progressively withdraw personnel from the mine until the situation normalizes.”
By Samuel Boadi
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