AngloGold Ashanti has refuted claims that some illegal miners are trapped underground at its Obuasi Mine.
According to the management of the company, its attention has been drawn to media reports alleging that illegal miners may have been trapped underground in the northern areas of the mine, remote from the current active mining areas.
AngloGold Ashanti in a press statement, signed by its Managing Director, Eric Asubonteng, stressed that contrary to the news report that the access route to the tunnel has been closed with unauthorized persons still underground, the main access and exit ramp from the mine remains open.
“Unauthorized persons underground are able to exit on foot, via the existing ramp, through the main access of this mining area. No person underground has been confined in any way and the main exit ramp from the mine remains open. Obuasi Gold Mine’s management team has notified the relevant authorities and public security services and is working closely with them,” AngloGold stated.
The management further revealed that on Monday, 29th May 2023, seven illegal miners exited through this main access point on foot and are in the custody of the Ghana Police Service.
“Any unauthorized person underground is encouraged to leave the mine at any time by the exit points where public security personnel remain on standby. The intrusion of illegal miners into underground areas remains a significantly dangerous activity and AngloGold Ashanti Ghana is working alongside authorities to ensure that only authorized mine personnel and contractors can access underground work areas,” reiterated AngloGold.
With a zero-injury policy in force, AngloGold is committed to the safety and security of its employees, and community members remain top priority, hence the company stands ready to provide any assistance required by the authorities in ensuring the safe exit of any unauthorized persons underground.
