The Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abu Jinapor, has served notice that the government of Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo will not look on and allow AngloGold Ashanti to go down as a result of activities of illegal mining.
Speaking to some small-scale miners in Obuasi as part of his tour to meet with various stakeholders to find ways to address the issue of illegal mining in the area, Mr Jinapor minced no words in stating that the government is always for responsible mining whether large or small scale, hence implored illegal miners to join government in upholding the principle of responsible mining.
The Minister’s visit to the mining town comes a week after some illegal miners invaded Anglogold Ashanti Obuasi Mine’s Cote D’or mining site and subsequently declined to come out to avoid arrest.
Some 79 illegal miners who used the exit were subsequently arrested. Sixteen others who later attempted to invade Anglogold’s concession were also arrested.
The incident has exacerbated the existing tension between community members and Anglogold Ashanti.
Mr Abu Jinapor in the meeting condemned the approach used by the illegal miners to prevent the miners who were arrested from being jailed.
He said “threatening or causing mayhem is not the right approach to deal with this situation”.
In a bid to get a full briefing of the issues, the Minister alongside his deputy minister, George Mireku Duker, held closed-door meetings with the Obuasi Municipal/Obuasi East Security Councils, traditional leaders and management of AngloGold Ashanti Ghana, Obuasi Mine.
Briefing the media after the meetings, the Lands and Natural Resources Minister assured AngloGold Ashanti of government’s commitment to protect the mine and assured that government will work to find a lasting solution to the impasse between illegal miners and AngloGold Ashanti.
Meanwhile, the chairman for the small scale miners in Obuasi, Kofi Adams, after the meeting with the Minister said that it was clear that there could not be permanent solutions for the issues at hand.
He recommended that AngloGold Ashanti cedes off two of its abandoned sites to the small scale miners with proper relinquishment documents.
“This is the only solution to our disagreements with AGA. We believe if AGA gives us these sites with proper documentations, we can then lobby investors to the sites without any risks.”