Asanko Gold sets record straight on death of police officer on its mines
Asanko Gold Ghana Limited has refuted claims that a police officer drowned in one of its abandoned pits at Amansie District in the Ashanti region.
According to the gold mining company, a police patrol team was on lawful duty and in the process of stopping a group of illegal miners from digging underneath a section of the haul road which had been backfilled a few days ago.
The company further explained that the deceased officer was chasing after an illegal miner and unfortunately fell into a pond about 2.5m deep which had been dug by the illegal miners.
The deceased officer’s colleagues managed to rescue him after 5-10 minutes and attempted CPR since he was unresponsive. After several attempts, they rushed him to the clinic where resuscitation continued but he was later pronounced dead,” Dr. Charles Amoah EVP & Managing Director of Asanko Gold Ltd.
Following the incident, Asanko Gold Ghana Ltd activated its emergency response system, informed the relevant regulatory bodies; Minerals Commission, the Ghana Chamber of Mines and District Police Command about the incident, evacuated the casualty to a morgue at the Agroyesum Hospital in Manso Adubia and halted all patrol duties.
In a joint press release by the both the company and the Ghana Chamber of Mines, Asanko Gold reaffirmed its commitment to promoting environmentally and socially responsible mining in Ghana. Further, the company said it has always worked in accordance with the Minerals Commission regulations, the Ghana Chamber of Mines and District Police Command to ensure the safety of all persons on its concessions.
The Ghana Chamber of Mines, on its part, reiterated its call for urgent action to be taken on the growing concern about the activities of illegal miners in bonafide concessions of large-scale mining firms in the country under the guise of community mining.
The Chamber urged the state to recognize mining as a national assert which must be protected by all as the activities of illegal miners are a national security threat which has the potential to erode all gains chalked by the country as Ghana is not the only mining destination in the sub-region.
The activities of these illegal miners pose a serious risk to the mining companies, community members, and the country at large. We wish to express our sincere condolences to the bereaved family and the Ghana Police Service”, CEO of Ghana Chamber of Mines, Dr. Sulemanu Koney.
The Chamber assured that it will reengage the judiciary to expedite prosecution of arrested illegal miner to serve as a deterrent.
The Ghana Chamber of Mines is the main minerals industry association in Ghana. The Chamber represents the collective interests of companies involved in mineral exploration, production, and processing in Ghana. Its member companies produce over 60 percent of Ghana’s mineral output. The Chamber has represented the industry’s interests since 1928.
