Ghana Chamber of Mines Condemns Ultimatum Against AngloGold Ashanti
By: Solomon Nartey Tetteh
The Ghana Chamber of Mines has strongly condemned threats issued by the Artisanal Small-Scale Miners Association (ASSMA) in Obuasi, warning that their one-week ultimatum to the Government and AngloGold Ashanti Ghana (AGAG) risks destabilising the mining industry and endangering national assets.
In a statement reacting to recent media reports on December 2, 2025, the Chamber said any attempt by groups to advise themselves outside the country’s legal framework poses a serious threat to peace and security, particularly in Obuasi, where tensions have been escalating.
According to the statement, the military personnel stationed at the mine are national security operatives, not private security under AGAG’s command. They were deployed under the mandate of the National Security Council to protect a strategic national asset and enforce the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703).
“The narrative that mine management is unilaterally directing security operations against citizens is factually incorrect,” the Chamber stressed.
It added that such claims misrepresent the State’s responsibility in safeguarding national investments.
The Chamber noted that the company has voluntarily relinquished approximately 60% of its original concession to the Government, an unprecedented move aimed at supporting community development and providing space for regulated small-scale operations.
The Chamber also warned that continued unlawful incursions into the mine’s remaining fenced operational zones undermine efforts to build a structured and sustainable community mining sector.
The statement further revealed that AGAG is part of ongoing tripartite discussions involving Government, the Ghana National Association of Small-Scale Miners (GNASSM), and Obuasi small-scale mining leadership.
These talks are anchored on a signed Framework of Understanding guiding the Responsible Cooperative Mining and Skills Development Program (RCOMSDEP). Issuing public ultimatums instead of working through these established channels, the Chamber argued, undermines progress and peaceful coexistence.
The Ghana Chamber of Mines urged all parties to act responsibly, warning that Ghana’s reputation as a safe investment destination depends on adherence to the rule of law and constructive dialogue.
It called on government authorities to treat ASSMA’s ultimatum as a national security issue and take necessary lawful measures to maintain order in Obuasi.
The Chamber also appealed to the media to verify claims on land ownership and security operations to avoid inflaming tensions.
