Armed Bandits Raid Northern Ashanti Mines, Injure Two, Loot Millions in Gold

Konongo Odumase, Ashanti Region – In a brazen attack on Monday, September 2, 2024, heavily armed bandits raided the Konongo Odumase Concession of Northern Ashanti Mines Co. Ltd., leaving two employees critically injured and making off with gold ore worth millions of dollars. The incident occurred at the company’s mining concession in Konongo Odumase, within the Asante Akim Central Municipality of the Ashanti Region.

The assailants, wielding firearms, machetes, clubs, bows, arrows, and other offensive weapons, caused significant damage to the company’s property, including three vehicles and various mining installations. This attack is not an isolated incident but part of a recurring pattern of violence, according to a press statement released by the company.

Northern Ashanti Mines has expressed deep concern over these repeated assaults by armed illegal miners. The company has been actively engaging with local security authorities, including the Municipal Security Council, to address these ongoing threats, but to no avail.

Management of the mine has held several meetings with the Municipal Security Council headed by the MCE for Asante Akyim Central; the latest of which concerned another attack that the mine suffered less than three months ago,” the statement read.

The company emphasized that such attacks are detrimental to the government’s efforts to promote a sustainable, legal, and properly regulated mining industry. The potential implications of these violent incidents are particularly concerning in light of the upcoming elections in Ghana, where stability is paramount.

Moreover, the mining firm is worried that the proceeds from such loots could be used for terror financing in an already volatile sub-region where Ghana faces significant threats.

“We are fully aware of the threats of terrorism in the sub-region and the tendency of such radical elements to hide behind community thugs to raid mines to finance their onslaught and cause further instability in an already volatile region where Ghana faces significant threat,” the statement warned.

The management has identified two illegal mining kingpins believed to be orchestrating these attacks and has called for immediate intervention from various government ministries and traditional authorities to restore security and protect their operations.

Managers of the mine have reaffirmed their commitment to corporate responsibility and cooperation with state agencies to ensure the safety of their staff and the integrity of their mining operations.

Full Statement Below:

Armed Attack on Northern Ashanti Mines Concession Leaves Two Badly Injured, with Gold-Ore Worth Millions Looted

Management of Northern Ashanti Mines Co. Ltd., a duly registered and licensed mining company at Konongo Odumase, in the Asante Akyim Central Municipality of the Ashanti Region, has noted with deep concern the incessant attacks of armed illegal miners on its concession.

On Monday, September 2, 2024, these brazen bandits invaded our concession for the umpteenth time, wielding stones, machetes, clubs, cajoles, firearms, bows, arrows, and other offensive objects.

This horrific raid, which occurred amidst the firing of live ammunition, resulted in two of our staff sustaining life-threatening gunshot wounds; destruction of three vehicles; damage to our buildings and key installations; and the looting of ore amounting to several millions of dollars.

Management of the mine has held several meetings with the Municipal Security Council headed by the MCE for Asante Akyim Central; the latest of which concerned another attack that the mine suffered less than three months ago.

Northern Ashanti Mines finds these recurrent attacks inimical to the quest of the government to promote a sustainable legal and properly regulated mining industry where investors are offered a favorable environment to contribute to the growth of the nation.

We are fully aware of the threats of terrorism in the sub-region and the tendency of such radical elements to hide behind community thugs to raid mines to finance their onslaught and cause further instability in an already volatile region where Ghana faces significant threat.

It is also crucial to note that allowing such disturbing clashes to happen within an electioneering year where the peace, security, and stability of the nation is a prime concern can have dire consequences, especially for miscreants looking for the slight flickers of tension to exploit.

Intelligence picked up by management suggests that two notorious illegal mining kingpins in the community are behind the provision of arms and the mobilization of these thugs to continue reigning terror on the concessions of Northern Ashanti Mines.

The mine has demonstrated utmost corporate responsiveness to all our stakeholders and finds it unfortunate that such impunity festers without comprehensive responses from the state to protect the mutual interests of our mines.

A cursory trend analysis shows an increasing risk of armed confrontations which we fear could overwhelm security services and pose further threats to the precious lives of our staff and the continuous operations of the mine.

We are calling on our respected Traditional Authority, the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources; the Interior Ministry, the Ministry of Defense; the Ashanti Regional Minister, and all relevant Ministries, Departments, and Agencies clothed with the mandate to offer us adequate guarantees and security; to promptly come to the aid of Northern Ashanti Mines.

As a company that has not reneged on our taxes, royalties, and other obligations to the community and the state, Management is willing and ready to cooperate with all agencies and stakeholders to restore lasting peace and order in Konongo Odumase as we guard jealously our obligations to Ghana, the lives of our staff, and the property of the mines.

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