AngloGold responds to illegal miners trapped reports

AngloGold Ashanti Obuasi Mine has responded to reports in the media alleging that over 300 illegal miners have been trapped in one of the mine’s shafts. Reports in Ghana on late Monday and early Tuesday said the illegal miners were sending distress calls after being trapped under for days without food and water.

But the mining company in a response through stated released on Tuesday said “Unauthorized persons underground are able to exit on foot via the existing ramp”. Adding that “No person underground has been confined in any way and the main exit ramp from the mine remains open”.

Illegal miners who had been able to reach their families said the mine had closed the exit leaving them trapped underground for four days without food and water. They then appealed to the District Chief Executive of the area to intervene to get them out as some of their colleagues had collapsed.

However, the company said, it “is aware of media reports alleging that illegal miners may have been trapped underground in the northern areas of the mine, remote from current active mining areas”.

But “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. Yesterday, 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.”

According to the statement, “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”.

It emphasized that “The safety and security of our employees and community members remain our top priority and AngloGold Ashanti Ghana stands ready to provide any assistance required by the authorities in ensuring the safe exit of any unauthorized persons underground”.