AngloGold Ashanti abandoned pit swallows 10 lives at Okyerekrom – Angry chief alleges

The Odikro of Okyerekrom in the Akrofuom district, of the Ashanti region, says an uncovered mining pit dug by AngloGold Ashanti-Obuasi mine at Sibriso near Okyerekrom continues to threaten human lives in the enclave. At least 10 people have perished in the abandoned pit, residents alleged. Locals say AngloGold Ashanti-Obuasi mine has turned deaf ears to their complaints after the pit collapsed in 2012 threatening farmers who have their farmlands around the pit. “Our people who ply their farming activities around the pit kept missing after the pit collapsed. “That notwithstanding, harmful chemicals such as cyanide and mercury used in the gold activities by the company in 2012 have polluted our river.” In an interaction with the Press, the Chief of the area, Nana Adjei Amoako Gyampa II Odikro of Okyerekrom expressed worry about what he says is the unethical practice of the mining company. ”Is AGA practicing galamsey or large-scale mining? We want to find out from them and the government. This irresponsible mining continues to put the lives of my residents at risk on daily basis. ”In the midst of this, they have also removed us from the community trust fund and we’ve been denied community development initiatives by AGA as a result of that decision,” he bemoaned. He thus gave management of Anglogold Ashanti Obuasi mines a two-week ultimatum to undertake reclamation of the pit or face their wrath.