The Minerals Commission is appealing to Artisans and Small Scale Mining members who continue to occupy AngloGold Ashanti’s Obuasi concession to end their invasion.
This comes after AngloGold Ashanti Ghana Limited successfully completed the process of surrendering 60% of the Obuasi concession to government.
AngloGold Ashanti continues to complain about an invasion of its mine by illegal miners leading to damage of parts of the ore body and important infrastructure of the Obuasi mine, raising the risk that the site will be permanently damaged. But in an interview with Citi Business News, Chief Executive Officer of the Minerals Commission, Dr. Toni Aubynn said the reason for which the small scale miners went underground is no more tenable.
“The reason for which people have gone underground is not tenable and the fact that you don’t have any place to work does not give you the right to do so. We are asking that our brothers and sisters come and take advantage of what we have now so they can live in harmony with the company.
“So it is an appeal to our friends and brothers who are said to be down there to take advantage of the ground that has been given out so they can also have something to do.
We are actually going to support them register form co-operatives in a way that AngloGold Ashanti can also work in peace and compliment the work of these small scale miners.” He stated.
Dr. Tony Aubynn added, “I believe that if they come, AngloGold Ashanti can also go beyond their current offer to probably help them in terms of training and the proper procedures in mining as they live together in peace.”
Meanwhile the Minerals Commission boss says his outfit has begun the process of allocating the ceded concession to registered Artisanal and Small Scale Miners in Obuase.
“This means that the land which was not previously used could now be brought into productive use. Out of this land we will cede some to small scale farmers and in fact we have begun demarcating the land to the miners.
So if the complaint in the past was that there was no land to mine on, then now we have the land and we are working with the district assemblies and all other stakeholders to work.” He observed.
