Nine persons have so far been confirmed dead in Saturday’s violent clash between some illegal miners and the military in Obuasi.
The miners are reported to have breached a security fence at one of the abandoned concessions of AngloGold Ashanti and were confronted by military personnel on guard.
Four of the eight persons who were rushed to the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital remain in critical condition after sustaining wounds to their upper and lower limbs.
However, four others have been discharged from the hospital.
Ashanti Regional Minister-designate, Dr. Frank Amoakohene, who visited the Obuasi Government Hospital and the families of the deceased and injured persons to commiserate with them, revealed the latest developments to the media.
Representing the President, Dr. Amoakohene has also been engaging with other stakeholders as part of investigations to find a lasting solution and ensure peaceful coexistence between residents and the mining company.
Dr. Amoakohene assured the public of the President’s commitment to ascertaining the circumstances leading to the loss of lives and severe injuries.
“The security officers are expected to be our friends and to protect us. In a situation where there’s a confrontation between them and the residents, we need to delve into what really happened and why those who are expected to protect us have found themselves in such a confrontation,” he said.
“We don’t want anyone to take the law into their own hands. We are going to pursue the matter to its meaningful conclusion,” he added.
The minister-designate urged community members and miners to remain calm as the government works assiduously to ease tensions between residents and mining companies.
“We want everyone to remain calm. We don’t want other pockets of disturbances elsewhere. The President has assured thorough investigations to ensure we do not experience such painful losses again,” he said.
Meanwhile, the police and medical professionals are working to release the bodies of Muslim victims to their families for a befitting burial.
Schools in both the Obuasi East and Obuasi Municipalities remain shut until calm is fully restored to the gold-mining town.
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