The company, in a release says, while the officials of the private security company were patrolling the Tontokrom concession, they were attacked by the illegal miners who were hiding in the bushes.

“Upon seeing the illegal miners emerging from the bushes with various guns, clubs, machetes, and other weapons, the security officers chose to retreat since they were unarmed. Unfortunately, two (2) of the private security officers were captured and lynched to death by these illegal miner”.

According to Asanko Mine, “It is important to note that for years now, it has always been the case that illegal miners, who are not residents at Tontokrom, have been encroaching on Asanko’s legally held concessions. It has also been the case that these illegal miners have been harassing both the staff of Asanko and its contractors”.

The company further stressed that the activities of illegal miners are erasing the efforts that the government and its officers are putting in place to make Ghana the premier mining investment destination in the world.

They are, therefore, calling for an investigation into the matter.

Asanko Mines also concluded by assuring employees, contractors, and community members of total security protection going forward.

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The deceased, Ibrahim Musah, was trapped under a huge debris but was rescued and rushed to the hospital, where he was declared dead.

According to the police, Musah was mining on the Asanko Gold Mining concession at the outskirts of Esaase Bontefufuo in the Ashanti Region, when disaster struck.

The incident, according to a police report, seen by the paper, occurred around 2:pm on October 28, 2023 and it attracted curious people to the scene.

“On 28/10/2023 at 1600hours Sanche Aaron of Esaase Bontefufuo came to the station. He reported that on the same day at about 2:00pm, Ibrahim Musah, aged 28, now deceased, went to Asanko Gold Mining concession at the outskirts of Esaase Bontefufuo to prospect for gold.

“That in the process, the pit collapsed and he got trapped. He was rescued from the pit and was rushed to Frimpong Boateng Medical center for treatment but was pronounced dead on arrival”, the police report said.

Police upon receipt of the complaint, the report added, “proceeded to the Medical Centre with the complainant where the deceased Ibrahim Musah’s lifeless body was found lying in a supine position on a stretcher”.

According to the Nkawie District Police, inspection was conducted on the deceased’s body and it revealed some bruises on his head and face.

The report further indicated that, the case was still under investigation, adding that the body has since been deposited at the mortuary for autopsy and preservation.

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