No person underground has been confined – AngloGold on trapped illegal miners

AngloGold Ashanti Ghana has denied reports that 300 illegal miners in their Obuasi mine are trapped and cannot exit the shaft.

A statement by the company said the persons underground are not confined and that the main exit remains open.

“Unauthorized persons underground are able to exit on foot, via the existing ramp, through the main access of this mining area. No person underground has been confined in any way and the main exit ramp from the mine remains open,” the statement said.

It added that the Obuasi mine management has notified the appropriate security agencies of the situation and they are collaborating to address the matter.

Meanwhile, the company said seven illegal miners have exited the mine through the main access point and are now in the custody of the Ghana Police Service.

They also encouraged all unauthorised persons underground to exit the mine at any of the exit points where security personnel are on standby.

The illegal miners reportedly entered the underground shaft in search of gold deposits but were unable to come out after all exit routes were closed.

One of the illegal miners, Ali Tijani speaking to the media disclosed that some of his colleagues are unconscious as they have run out of food and water.

He said they have reached out to their families and are hoping authorities can come to their aid and rescue them from the shaft.

“We went to the AngloGold mine to work, but the place was closed down. For four days now, we are just in there. We don’t have any food or water. And they do not want to give us water. We are about 300.

“We went there on our own. The DCE must come to our aid. We don’t have any work, that’s why we go there to mine to take care of ourselves and our families,” he added.

Below is the statement by AngloGold Ashanti Ghana