In an interview on Oyerepa TV, he said he believes the unfortunate actions by the soldiers were fueled by humiliation that some of their colleagues suffered at the hands of a civilian in Obuasi, who fought with some military officers and overpowered them near a polling station on election day.
“If the soldiers were not already angry, I believe what happened would not have occurred. In fact, the incident during the election, where a civilian struggled with some soldiers and overpowered them, was a total disgrace to the military. It showed that our military officers are somehow weak, and unfortunately, that did not present the right image for them.
“So to me, it seemed like payback, and unfortunately, this killing did not happen anywhere else but in Obuasi, where the civilian fought and defeated the soldiers during the election. I believe if this Anglogold incident had happened elsewhere, the military would not have reacted in this manner. To me, I think it is a shameful act by the military. Assuming without admitting that the people were holding guns, which military training teaches soldiers to encounter a civilian holding a gun by shooting them in the head?”
Prof. Yarhands Dissou Arthur urged President Mahama to immediately reshuffle the heads of the military across the country to prevent such acts that lead to needless deaths.
“I am calling on President Mahama, as a matter of urgency, to make changes in the hierarchy of the military across the country. If he does not do that immediately, such incidents will continue,” he stated.
The violent clash, which occurred late on January 18, 2025, at the northern section of the company’s Obuasi concession, resulted in the deaths of seven illegal miners and injuries to several others, including a security officer.
In a statement issued on January 19, AngloGold Ashanti confirmed that the situation had been brought under control, assuring the public that the mine’s operations remained unaffected.
The company reiterated its commitment to working with local authorities to address the incident and prevent similar occurrences in the future.
“On the evening of January 18, an incident occurred within the fenced operational area in the northern part of the Obuasi concession. A large group of armed illegal miners attempted to forcibly gain unauthorized access to mine infrastructure. Authorities mobilized to defend against this attack and ensure the safety of employees and the surrounding community. The situation at the mine is currently calm, and we are working closely with the authorities. Our primary concern remains the safety and health of all employees and members of the community directly impacted by this incident,” the statement read.
The Ghana Armed Forces (GAF), in a separate statement, said their personnel acted in self-defense after being attacked by the illegal miners, who reportedly used locally manufactured firearms and other weapons. GAF confirmed the deaths of seven miners and injuries to others, including a member of the security forces.
