Earl International Group Gold Limited has noted that the recent clash between the Military and some illegal miners working in their concession is not a conflict between the company and the Gbane community.
The company described as unfortunate and avoidable Friday’s disturbances that resulted in the injury of some persons and death of 2 others.
“This clash between the military and illegal miners mining in our concession which led to some casualties is very unfortunate and was avoidable,” he stated.
The disturbances broke out when illegal miners who are said to have encroached the large-scale mining company’s concession resisted a REGSEC sanctioned operation to conceal their pits.
According to assistant public relations officer of Earl International Group Gold ltd, Albert Azongo, the encroachment of its concession through underground tunnels by these illegal miners endangers the safety of the encroachers.
In order to prevent a reoccurrence of the 2019 accident that led to the death of more than a dozen miners, the company began engagements last year with the Regional Security Council and the Minerals Commission for a possible solution, he indicated.
The regulator and REGSEC, having understood the safety concerns raised by the company and the imminent danger the activities of the encroachers pose to their own lives, took a decision to seal up the mining pits.
He stated that the mining entity further reached out to the pit owners in a bid to ensure a peaceful implementation of the decision of REGSEC and the regulator.
“We strongly wanted to ensure that this kind of unfortunate incident did not occur, we held engagements with the relevant stakeholders including our regulators, community leaders and some of the persons we established were the operators of these mining pits,” he said.
While some of the owners saw reason in the move to close their pits, others disagreed and resisted the operation on Friday, March, 2024.
Their resistance escalated into a confrontation between them and military personnel who were providing security for the operation.
2 persons have since been reported dead, with several others injured and receiving treatment at various health facilities.
Albert Azongo acknowledged the socio-economic implication of the decision to seal up the pits, which are sources of livelihood for the miners but insisted that it is important to prevent a looming danger and safeguard their lives.
He indicated that the company since taking over the site has taken steps to ameliorate the impact of its takeover including absorbing former employees of concession owners who relinquished their possessions to it.
He disputed claims that the Friday’s incident was clash between the company and the Gbane Community.
“What happened last Friday is not a conflict between our mining company and the Gbane Community. We are not fighting the community. It is a section of people who are fighting to protect their source of livelihoods. We will re-open the engagement and consultations window with them and those who matter to address this issue”.
