Hold NDC and John Mahama responsible for Obuasi killings - Richard Ahiagbah

The National Communications Director of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Richard Ahiagbah, has blamed the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and President John Dramani Mahama for the deaths of at least seven individuals in Obuasi on Saturday.

The incident, which Ahiagbah refers to as a "Black Sunday," unfolded amidst a violent clash between illegal miners and military personnel guarding the AngloGold Ashanti mining site.

In a social media post laden with grief and frustration, Mr. Ahiagbah highlighted what he perceives as negligence by the NDC and the newly inaugurated John Mahama administration. He accused the NDC of failing to call their supporters to order, culminating in the clash on Saturday.

“Ghanaians must hold the NDC and the John Mahama administration responsible for the murder of these eight Ghanaians owing to their inaction to inform, caution, or advise the members of the NDC who have taken the laws into their own hands and stormed institutions under the guise that it is their government that is in power.

“Just 12 days in office, eight avoidable slaughters simply because the NDC refused to heed the call to bring their rampaging members to order. Now, these precious lives are gone forever due to that negligence. No extent of investigation will bring them back to life,” he wrote on X.

The confrontation, which took place on the night of January 18, 2025, resulted in the death of seven illegal miners and left several others injured. According to reports, the miners attempted to breach the mining site, armed with various weapons, leading to retaliatory action by the military who were on Operation HALT II duties at the time.

The events leading to the clash were detailed in a release by the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF), which confirmed the casualties and the context of the confrontation. The military's statement indicated that the miners were armed and initiated the violence by firing at the patrol team, prompting a defensive response from the soldiers.

Meanwhile, President John Dramani Mahama has ordered an immediate investigation into the matter, following the government's expression of regret over the loss of lives.

Yesterday, 19th January 2025, was a Black Sunday in H.E. John Mahama’s Ghana. It has taken me a lot to wrap my mind around the needless killing of eight or more Ghanaians in Obuasi.

My condolences to the families, friends, and the larger Obuasi and Ashanti Region😭. We share in… pic.twitter.com/jOC8FN3ZgU

— Richard Ahiagbah (@RAahiagbah) January 20, 2025