A violent clash between small-scale miners and military personnel guarding the AngloGold Ashanti (AGA) Obuasi Mine has reportedly left eight people dead.
Four vehicles were burned in the confrontation in the Ashanti Regional town.
The incident, which occurred last night, has heightened tensions in the area.
According to Eric Gyamfi, an eyewitness who spoke to Myjoyonline.com, the small-scale miners besieged the premises of the mine at midnight, arriving fully armed and opening fire.
The motive behind the attack remains unclear. Soldiers guarding the facility responded with gunfire, leading to the deaths of more than eight miners.
Injured individuals have been transported to the Obuasi Government Hospital and the AGA Hospital for medical treatment, while the situation in the town continues to deteriorate.
Following the clash, agitated members of the small-scale miners have taken to the streets, vandalizing property and burning tires.
Four vehicles, including buses, have reportedly been torched, further heightening fears among residents.
“They are burning tires in the road and they have burned some of the AGA buses. Right now the demonstration is still going on… The galamsey boys [are demonstrating] because some of their colleagues have been shot dead. So they are destroying things,” Mr. Gyamfi said.
The incident has left the Obuasi community on edge, with security concerns intensifying.
Authorities are yet to provide a detailed account of what triggered the midnight assault, and the situation remains volatile.