The army reports that a confrontation with on-duty soldiers at a mine in the central Ashanti region has resulted in the deaths of at least seven people.
According to the Ghana Armed Forces, roughly 60 illegal miners, armed with “pump action guns,” among other weapons, broke into the mine owned by the multinational conglomerate AngloGold Ashanti and opened fire on the troops when they were stopped.
According to the statement, this caused the soldiers “to retaliate in self-defence,” which resulted in the fatalities and injuries.
The miners’ spokesperson denied that they had been armed.
Several buses were set on fire during protests in Obuasi town after the deaths were reported.
