The Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) has confirmed that its troops shot and killed seven illegal miners in self-defense at the AngloGold Ashanti mines in Obuasi on Saturday, January 18, 2025.
According to the GAF, a group of about 60 illegal miners breached the mine’s security fence and attempted to access the Deep Decline area. When the military patrol deployed on Operation Halt II duties tried to stop them, the illegal miners fired at the troops.
“The troops returned fire in self-defense,” Brigadier General E. Aggrey-Quashie, Director General Public Relations noted in a statement.
Also, a soldier was injured after being hit by pellets from a pump action gun but has since been treated.
The Ghana Armed Forces disclosed that six pump action BB cartridges were retrieved from the scene.
The GAF has urged all illegal miners to stay away from mining concessions and desist from engaging troops in shootouts, as the consequences of such actions could be fatal.
“The Ghana Armed Forces wishes to reiterate its caution to all and sundry that military personnel on authorized duty have the right to defend themselves, innocent civilians, and property, including the use of lethal force, if necessary to preserve life,” the GAF noted.
Below is the full statement
