Rejoinder: Police officer drowns in abandoned Asanko mine

The attention of Asanko Gold Ghana Ltd has been drawn to a publication with the heading “Police Officer Drowns in Abandoned Asanko Mine” on Ghanaweb with Starr FM as its source. According to the publication, the Police Officer “fell into an abandoned mine at Asanko Gold Ghana Ltd operational jurisdiction at Amansie District in the Ashanti region.”

The publication further claimed that a Police source said the Officer “was among a team of police personnel deployed to undertake an unexplained police security operation within the Asanko Gold Ghana Ltd mining firm area but unfortunately fell into a deep pit covered with stagnant water.”

Asanko Gold Ghana wishes to first and foremost express its sincere condolences to the family of the deceased and the Ghana Police Service. We do appreciate their commitment to protecting our mines and their fight against illegal mining in the country.

We however wish to clarify that.

1. The deceased officer died in a pit dug by illegal miners who invaded the Asanko Gold Ghana Ltd concession and left many uncovered pits.

2. A team of Police officers was on lawful duty and in the process of stopping a group of illegal miners from digging underneath a section of the haul road (just after a contractor’s Laydown area, Chainage 1+500km) which had been backfilled a few days ago.

3. The deceased officer was chasing after an illegal miner and unfortunately fell into a pond about 2.5m deep which had been dug by the illegal miners.

4. The deceased officer’s colleagues managed to rescue him after 5-10 minutes and attempted CPR since he was unresponsive.

5. After several attempts, they rushed him to the clinic where resuscitation continued but he was later pronounced dead.

After several attempts, they rushed him to the clinic where resuscitation continued but he was later pronounced dead.

1. Activated its emergency response system.

2. Informed the relevant regulatory bodies, Minerals Commission, the Ghana Chamber of Mines, and District Police Command about the incident.

3. Evacuated the casualty to a morgue at the Agroyesum Hospital in Manso Adubia.

4. Halted all Patrol duties.

Asanko Gold Ghana Ltd reaffirms its commitment to promoting environmentally and socially responsible mining in Ghana. Further, Asanko has always worked in accordance with the Minerals Commission regulations, the Ghana Chamber of Mines and the District Police Command to ensure the safety of all persons on its concessions.

“The Ghana Chamber of Mines reiterates its call for urgent action to be taken on the growing concern about the activities of illegal miners in bonafide concessions of large-scale mining firms in the country under the guise of community mining.

The activities of these illegal miners pose a serious risk to the mining companies, community members, and the country at large. We wish to express our sincere condolences to the bereaved family and the Ghana Police Service”, CEO of Ghana Chamber of Mines, Dr. Sulemanu Koney.

Signed Signed

Dr. Charles Amoah Dr. Sulemanu Koney

EVP & Managing Director CEO

Asanko Gold Ghana Ltd. Ghana Chamber of Mines