Asanko Gold Mine condemns murder of security personnel and civilian by illegal miners
Asanko Gold Ghana Ltd, operators of the Asanko Gold Mine in the Ashanti Region, has strongly condemned the recent murder of its contracted security personnel and a civilian by illegal miners at Tontokrom.
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The company in a statement copied to Graphic Online called for swift investigations to ensure the perpetrators are brought to justice.
The tragic incident occurred on Saturday, March 2, 2024, when State Security Personnel conducted routine patrols in the mining communities of the Ashanti Region, including the Tontokrom Concession owned by Asanko.
"As part of the patrol, officers of the State Security visited the Tontokrom Concession belonging to Asanko. To the surprise of everyone, the illegal miners did not come out to carry out their illegal mining activities that day," the statement said.
"To secure the Tontokrom Concession, Asanko then deployed its licensed contractor private security service provider to patrol the area. While the officials of the licensed private security service provider were patrolling the Tontokrom Concession, they were attacked by the illegal miners who were hiding in the bushes.
"Upon seeing the illegal miners emerging from the bushes with various guns, club, machetes and other weapons, the security officers chose to retreat since they were unarmed. Unfortunately, two (2) of the private security officers were captured and lynched to death by these illegal miners.
"Asanko was also informed that a civilian was also lynched to death by these criminals. In all, three (3) persons are dead. It is important to note that for years now, it has always been the case that illegal miners, who are not residents at Tontokrom, have been encroaching on Asanko’s legally held concessions. It has also been the case that these illegal miners have been harassing both the staff of Asanko and its contractors".
Asanko highlighted the persistent issue of illegal miners encroaching on its legally held concessions at Tontokrom, causing harassment to its staff and contractors. The company stressed that such activities undermine efforts to position Ghana as a premier mining investment destination globally.
Expressing commitment to the safety of its employees, contractors, and community members, Asanko urged the country's security agencies to conduct a thorough investigation into the incident and ensure that those responsible are brought to justice.
Read the entire statement below;
Asanko condemns the murder of its contracted security personnel and a civilian at Tontokrom.
ASANKO GOLD MINE – 4TH MARCH 2024: Asanko Gold Ghana Ltd (Asanko”) operators of the Asanko Gold Mine in the Ashanti Region condemns the murder of its contracted security personnel and a civilian by illegal miners at Tontokrom and calls for swift investigations to bring the perpetrators to justice.
On Saturday, 2nd March, 2024, the State Security Personnel conducted its periodic patrols within the mining communities in the Ashanti Region. As part of the patrol, officers of the State Security visited the Tontokrom Concession belonging to Asanko. To the surprise of everyone, the illegal miners did not come out to carry out their illegal mining activities that day.
To secure the Tontokrom Concession, Asanko then deployed its licensed contractor private security service provider to patrol the area. While the officials of the licensed private security service provider were patrolling the Tontokrom Concession, they were attacked by the illegal miners who were hiding in the bushes.
Upon seeing the illegal miners emerging from the bushes with various guns, club, machetes and other weapons, the security officers chose to retreat since they were unarmed. Unfortunately, two (2) of the private security officers were captured and lynched to death by these illegal miners.
Asanko was also informed that a civilian was also lynched to death by these criminals. In all, three (3) persons are dead.
It is important to note that for years now, it has always been the case that illegal miners, who are not residents at Tontokrom, have been encroaching on Asanko’s legally held concessions. It has also been the case that these illegal miners have been harassing both the staff of Asanko and its contractors.
The activities of these illegal miners are erasing all the efforts that the government and its officers are putting in to make Ghana the premier mining investment destination in the world.
Asanko remains committed to the safety of our employees, contractors and community members, and urges the security agencies in the country to investigate the matter and bring the perpetrators to book.
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