Some 30 illegal miners were arrested on Saturday, August 10, 2024, at the underground mine area of Earl International Group Gold Ltd. in the Talensi District of the Upper East Region.
The suspects were part of a larger group of over 200 unauthorized individuals who had invaded the mine through illegal pits.
“The massive invasion of our underground mine by these unauthorized persons has heightened in the past four weeks, essentially disrupting our operations and posing a safety risk to both the illegal miners and underground workers of our company,” the company stated.
The company reports that the illegal miners, often armed and accompanied by “macho men,” have been attacking Earl’s staff and stealing drilling equipment and blasted ore. “They brazenly attack Earl’s underground staff, who have been assigned to carry out their duties, and take over drilling equipment to mine illegally or steal blasted ore,” the company added.
Firibu Salia, Earl’s Mine Manager, emphasized the severity of the situation, saying, “The illegal miners are taking over our mine forcefully. Now, they do it in a manner that makes it appear as if they are the owners of the concession. Almost on a daily basis, they come down in large numbers through illegal pits and sack our workers. What is even more dangerous is that they drill and blast in a way that can cause serious problems for us.”
Management has been working to mitigate the activities of the illegal miners, including engaging with local Chiefs and Elders. The company assures stakeholders of its commitment to addressing the situation through legitimate and sustainable means.
“We need the support of our stakeholders to address this issue,” Salia urged.
The arrested individuals have been processed for prosecution.
The Earl Group further urged stakeholders to support efforts to address the issue of illegal mining in the area.
