“Investigate Brutal Treatment Of Suspected Illegal Miners” – Minority And CSSMA

The Minority caucus in parliament is demanding a bi-partisan investigation into the alleged brutal treatment of some suspected illegal miners who were arrested on the premises of AngloGold Ashanti, a mining company in the Ashanti region.

Addressing the media earlier yesterday, Ranking member on the mines and energy committee in parliament, John Jinapor noted that the act is an abuse of human right as the accused were unfairly discriminated against as they were not made to face due legal process.

Also, the Concerned Small Scale Miners Association says government must immediately investigate the alleged brutalization of these suspected illegal miners on a concession of AngloGold Ashanti at Obuasi in the Ashanti Region.

President of the group, Micheal Kwadwo Peprah, while speaking to Eyewitness News said, “As we speak now, Anglogold Ashanti is not working in that enclave. So, I think, what we need to do is to find a pragmatic solution to helping the indigenes find their daily bread. As a matter of fact, some of these people have registered with the community mining scheme. If we want to curb galamsey, we must find jobs for these people instead of harassing and suppressing them in whatever they do”.

He made it known that a legal team is doing all they can to ensure the freedom of over 40 miners arrested, and also, that some of the miners are still in the hospital after they were severely beaten and made to lie in mud.