We Acted in Self-Defense – GAF
THE Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) says they acted in self-defense in killing the seven suspected illegal miners who encroached the AngloGold Ashanti Obuasi Mine on Saturday, January 18, 2025.
In an official released statement signed by the Director General of Public Relations, Brigadier General E. Aggrey-Quarshie, some small scale- miners numbering about 60 breached the security fence of the AngloGold Ashanti Obuasi Mine around 11:00 pm on Saturday, January 18.
The group allegedly intruded at the Cote D’or Ramp with the intention of gaining access to the Deep Decline of the mines.
According to the press release issued by the GAF, the illegal miners in possession of different weapons fired upon the military patrol team stationed on OPERATIONS HALT II when the troops tried to stop them from entering the Deep Decline.
The illegal miners were said to be wielding locally manufactured rifles, pump-action guns l, gas cylinders, knives, industrial bolt cutters, axes and machetes, according to the statement l.
This prompted a swift response from the military personnel on duty as part of Operation HALT II, a nationwide effort to curb illegal mining activities to open fire on the illegal miners, killing seven (7) instantly while one soldier also sustained injuries after being hit by a pump-action gun.
“The troops returned fire in self defense. The shoot-out led to the death of seven illegal miners and one seriously injured,” GAF disclosed.
The statement added that the remaining illegal miners bolted away and a soldier who was hit with a bullet wad treated and discharged. Six pump-action BB cartridges were collected at the scene.
The Ghana Armed Forces has reiterated its quest to protect their men on authorised duty and cautioned all and sundry that they have the right to defend both themselves and that of the innocent civilians, and properties including the use of brut force.
GAF admonished all illegal miners to stay away from mining concessions and also desist from engaging troops in shootouts since the consequences of such actions could be fatal.
