"Illegal miners numbering about 60 breached the Anglo Gold Ashanti mines security fence and intruded at Cote D’or Ramp," Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) has said.

GAF noted this in a statement dated Sunday, January 19, 2025, signed by E. Aggrey-Quashie, Brigadier General, Director General, Public Relations.  

"The aim of the illegal miners was to enter the Deep Decline of the mines. The military patrol deployed on Operation HALT II duties at the mentioned location were fired upon by the illegal miners when the soldiers tried to stop them from accessing the Deep Decline," the statement explained.

"The illegal miners were wielding locally manufactured rifles, pump action guns, gas cylinders, knives, heavy duty industrial bolt cutters, axes and machetes. The troops returned fire in self defence."

Futhermore, "the shootout led to the death of seven illegal miners and one seriously injured. The remaining illegal miners bolted away," GAF said.

Read more below:

ILLEGAL MINERS FIRE AT TROOPS ON DUTY AT ANGLO GOLD ASHANTI MINES

On Saturday 18 January 2025 at about 2300 hours (11:00 pm), illegal miners numbering about 60 breached the Anglo Gold Ashanti mines security fence and intruded at Cote D’or Ramp.

The aim of the illegal miners was to enter the Deep Decline of the mines. The military patrol deployed on Operation HALT II duties at the mentioned location were fired upon by the illegal miners when the soldiers tried to stop them from accessing the Deep Decline.

The illegal miners were wielding locally manufactured rifles, pump action guns, gas cylinders, knives, heavy duty industrial bolt cutters, axes and machetes. The troops returned fire in self defence.

The shootout led to the death of seven illegal miners and one seriously injured. The remaining illegal miners bolted away.

A soldier who was also hit by pellets from a pump action gun and got injured has been treated. Six pump action BB cartridges were retrieved. The Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) wishes to reiterate its caution to all and sundry that military personnel on authorised duty have the right to defend themselves, innocent civilians, and property, including the use of lethal force, if necessary to preserve life.

GAF wishes to urge 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.