Sebastian R. Freiku And Albert Nana Asante
8 January 2008
Obuasi — MR. JOHN Miller, Managing Director of the Obuasi Mines of Anglogold-Ashanti (AGA) says the company is considering brining in the Military as a last resort in a bid to clamp down on illegal miners engaged in "galamsey" operations on its mining concession.
He said even though the military could not take military action their intervention would ensure maximum protection of assets against the huge destructive force employed by galamsey operators in their illegal activities.
In an interview with The Chronicle after he had interacted with the media Miller said the company was dialoguing with the government at different levels to ensure that activities of illegal miners on the company's concession had been brought to the minimum level.
Miller stated that AGA was talking to the military command to help protect the company's installations following the extensive damages to 20 transformers at the North mine power station from yet another attempts at cable theft on January 3, 2008 which brought production to a halt for days.
MD Miller estimated the cost of damage to property at between $500,000 and $1 million saying that AGA would need almost the same amount to restore operations.
He said the company would have to invest about $300 million in refrigeration plant, underground equipment and processing plants to restore production to full capacity.
According to the MD, copper theft by galamsey operators last year cost the company $757,500 and that as part of measures to stem it, AGA had had to increase security against efforts by a few disgruntled elements who were willing to risk their lives and jeopardize the operations of the company.
Mr. Yiadom Boakye Amponsah, General Manager for Sustainable Development said AGA was facilitating a situation where government could give some concession outside its own to small scale miners as a way of minimizing illegal activities of the galamsey operators.
Mr. Ahmed Bashir, a manager of the company attributed the continued presence of galamsey operators on AGA concession to the judicial service. According to him, sentences handed down to illegal miners were not deterrent enough hence their continued involvement in the illegal operations.
Meanwhile, Mr. Prince Ankrah, Secretary-General of the Ghana Mine Workers Union of TUC has called for government intervention to ensure maximum security of miners.
He said until government assures miners of their safety they would have to advise themselves.
According to him miners were expected to work in a safe environment and return to their families at the close of work.
He suggested a deep seated discussion among stakeholders to ensure safety of miners and protection of assets and installations.
Be the first to Write a Comment!
Copyright © 2008 Ghanaian Chronicle. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). To contact the copyright holder directly for corrections — or for permission to republish or make other authorized use of this material, click here.
AllAfrica aggregates and indexes content from over 125 African news organizations, plus more than 200 other sources, who are responsible for their own reporting and views. Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica.
