By Jack Adom
Eight ?hard-core Illegal miners, ?armed with all kinds of crude weapons who were scrounging and blasting underground stopes for gold bearing materials were arrested by ?Obuasi mine security personnel last Thursday.
The eight young galamsey operators were busted by the anti ?illegal mining squad on the mine, who were on routine patrol duties at one of the underground operations in the southern part of the mine. The AngloGold Ashanti security ?team, meanwhile has handed over the illegal miners to the Obuasi municipal police ??for further investigations before they ?are hauled before court?.
The Obuasi police has confirmed the arrest of the illegal miners, saying ?they are in our custody for further investigations?.
According to the mine security personnel and the police, ?the illegal miners were busted ?on Thursday?morning by the ?Security underground patrol team. Their names were given as ? David Apali, Seidu Issifu, Sadik Toffiq, Ahmed Nasir, Sadat Mohammed and Abubakar Sadik, David Adiali and Alex Antwi. All of them are residents of Obuasi, aged between 22 and 34 years and have been working as illegal miners for the past 4years.
?Illegal mining activities in the Obuasi municipality has markedly reduced in recent times in the Obuasi municipality, thanks to governmental intervention and massive education mounted by AngloGold Ashanti and its stakeholders. While most of the illegal miners have temporarily taken a detour to other mining communities outside Obuasi, both Ghanaian and Chinese illegal activities have resurrected in smaller communities such as Nyamebekyere, Sanso, Anwona, Achiase, Diewuoso, Okyerekrom , Odaso, Kowia, ?Fiankoma ?and Homasi ?in Obuasi and Amansie Central districts.
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> Though the lands where they are operating have been duly licensed ?as part of ?the Obuasi mine concession, most of these Chinese illegal miners lay verifiable claims ?that they acquired the lands from chiefs and traditional leaders in those areas.
