7 illegal miners killed by army in southern Ghana

By Ilayda Cakirtekin

ISTANBUL (AA) - Ghanaian troops killed at least seven illegal miners in a shootout over the weekend, according to the military.

The incident happened at Anglo Gold Ashanti mines in southern Obuasi town, the West African nation's military said in a statement late Sunday.

Around 60 illegal miners breached the mines and intruded at Cote D’or Ramp to enter the Deep Decline of the mines, it said.

The miners, carrying weapons such as locally manufactured rifles, pump action guns, gas cylinders, knives, heavy-duty industrial bolt cutters, axes, and machetes fired on the soldiers who tried to stop them, the military said, adding that acting in self-defense, the soldiers killed seven miners and seriously injured one of them.

One of the soldiers was also injured.

The troops also retrieved six pump action BB cartridges.

The Ghana Armed Forces “wishes to urge all illegal miners to stay away from mining concessions and also desist from engaging troops in shootouts since the consequences of such actions could be fatal,” the statement said.