Bodies of miners killed in Obuasi military clash released to families
The families of nine local miners who died during a violent confrontation with military officers at the Anglogold Obuasi Gold Mine have gathered at the Obuasi Government Hospital to claim the bodies of their loved ones.
Hospital authorities have confirmed that autopsies on the deceased are nearing completion. The bodies will then be handed over to the police for official release to the families for burial arrangements.
In addition to the nine fatalities, eight injured individuals were transferred to the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital in Kumasi for treatment.
The confrontation has prompted heightened military presence at all entry and exit points of the mine. Meanwhile, public and private schools in Obuasi remain closed as the Ghana Education Service monitors the security situation.
The violent clash occurred late on Saturday, January 18, 2025, around 11:00 PM, when approximately 60 illegal miners breached the mine’s security fence in an attempt to access the Deep Decline area.
The miners were reportedly armed with an assortment of weapons, including locally manufactured rifles, pump-action guns, knives, axes, and gas cylinders. According to reports, they opened fire on the military officers stationed at the site, prompting the soldiers to return fire in self-defence.
The exchange left nine miners dead, with others seriously injured. The remaining miners fled the scene.
One soldier sustained injuries from pellets fired by a pump-action gun but has since been treated. Six pump-action BB cartridges were retrieved at the site by military personnel.
The incident has left the community in shock, with many calling for calm and a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the clash. Security measures are expected to remain tight in the area to prevent further escalations.
