Obuasi Shooting:7 out of 9 miners shot dead in Obuasi buried

Seven out of the nine miners who were shot dead for illegally invading the concession of mining firm AngloGold Ashanti (AGA) have been buried.

The bodies were released to the family on Tuesday, January 21 after an autopsy was conducted.

The seven, all Muslims, were buried according to Islamic rites amidst heightened tension in the area.

The miners were shot at by the military when they attempted to access a restricted mine unlawfully.

One out of the four injured receiving treatment at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital is still battling for his life as the bullet is said to have pierced through a critical part of his body.

The Ashanti regional minister-designate, Dr Frank Amoakohene, and some regional executives of the National Democrat Congress have been engaging the youth in Obuasi, families of the deceased, and management of AGA to restore calm in the community.

“We don’t want anyone to take the law into their hands. The President has given his assurance of pursuing the matter to its meaningful conclusion. We want everyone to remain calm. The security officers are not supposed to be our enemy but our protectors. We will do a thorough investigation into this to make sure that we don’t lose lives as painful as we have again,” Dr Amoakohene said whilst addressing the youth.

President John Dramani Mahama on Sunday, January 19, ordered investigations into the shooting incident.

Relative calm has since been restored in Obuasi and security beefed up, although schools remain shut down due to the incident.

Illegal miners’ continuous intrusion into the concession of AngloGold Ashanti to prospect for gold has been leading to unrest between the youth and the mining firm for several years.

Stakeholder discussion is currently ongoing to find a lasting solution to the perennial disturbances.