Sunyani: A group of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) has called on the police administration to independently investigate the shooting incident that left three people dead at the Newmont Ahafo South Mine's enclave.
According to Ghana News Agency, a joint statement was released expressing extreme concern over the incident at Newmont's Ahafo South mines. The statement highlighted that police officers, who were tasked with protecting Newmont's site, allegedly shot and killed three individuals and injured others on January 8, 2025. The statement was signed by Kwaku Afari, Technical Director of Wacam, Alhassan Iddrissu, Legal Advocate at the Centre for Public Interest Law, and Dr. Samuel Obiri, Executive Director of the Centre for Environmental Impact Analysis. Additional signatories included Mr. Raphael Ahenu, Executive Director of Global Media Foundation, and Mr. Robert Tanti Ali, Executive Director of the Centre for Social Impact Studies.
The CSOs urged the Inspector General of Police to examine the actions of the police personnel involved in the incident, which resulted in what they described as needless deaths and injuries to vulnerable individuals. They also called for an independent investigation into the broader issues of insecurity and human rights violations in mining communities, particularly those affected by Newmont's operations in the Ahafo region.
The joint statement emphasized the need to review security protocols in mining areas and recognize the rights of communities impacted by mining activities. It stressed the importance of holding mining companies accountable and ensuring they take greater responsibility in protecting the rights of individuals in these communities. The goal is to prevent future incidents of human rights abuses and to ensure that both mining companies and law enforcement agencies operate within legal and human rights frameworks.
The CSOs expressed concern over a systemic trend of insecurity and harassment in mining communities, which had led to deaths and severe injuries due to the employment of state and private security personnel by multinational mining companies. They criticized state agencies for treating these issues with undue leniency. The statement concluded by reminding that the 1992 Constitution of Ghana guarantees the right to life and a fair trial, and that allegations of illegal mining activities do not justify extra-judicial actions.