Since the illegal occupation of Anglogold Ashanti’s concession by illegal miners, some names keep appearing anytime the issue is hit on. It might be for the good or bad reasons..
Today obuasitoday.com is looking at some of these names and their purported role in the incursion.
1. Hon. Alexander Kobina Ackon, Ashanti regional minister
The Ashanti regional minister has been under intense pressure since the illegal occupation of AGA’s concession by the illegal miners. He is reported to be the brain behind the refusal of the illegal miners to vacate the concession.
From other quarters, he is reported to have stalled the return of the military to the northern part of the mine where most of the illegal miners are busily working and destroying mining materials of the mining giant. His political opponents and top officials of the Mine have reportedly been heard citing him as the fuel in the fire.
Though he has repeatedly distanced himself from these allegations, it is still the belief of many that he might have a hand in the incursion and his name has never stopped popping up anytime the issue is raised.
2. Richard Ofori Boadi, Municipal Chief Executive
Zuba, as he is popularly known, is the Obuasi Municipal Boss and his name is also popular in conversations concerning AGA and illegal miners.
Due to some comments he made on Nhyira fm and shaft fm last year, stating that ‘small scale mining will work’, he has been implicated in the conflict between the Mine and illegal miners. He reportly told Frank Aboagye Danyansah, one of his opponents in the Obuasi East parliamentary elections to quit talking against illegal mining if he wants to win the Obuasi East parliamentary seat.
As the boss of the once vibrant golden city, it is believed the illegal occupation could end if he speaks with the leadership of the small scale miners but his silence or feet dragging has been considered as a support for the illegal miners.
3. Dr. Patrick Boakye-Yiadom
Dr. Patrick Boakye Yiadom is the NPP parliamentary candidate for Obuasi East constituency and a medical practitioner at the Bryant Mission Hospital in Obuasi. He was spotted at one of the two demonstrations by the Artisanal Small scale miners later last year and this has given some people a reason to believe that he supports the actions of the illegal miners who happens to be part of the Artisanal small scale miners.
Earlier this year, the Obuasi MCE accused the Doctor of openly supporting the activities of illegal miners in the Municipality.
4. Ben Annang, Former Assembly Member of Sanso Electoral Area
Ben Annang is currently the spokesperson for the Artisanal small scale miners and is seen as a contributing factor to the AGA crises with the illegal miners. He is reported to have claimed that AGA asked the illegal miners to protect the concession for them and was providing them food everyday. He has become a strong mouthpiece for the soft speaking chairman of the association, Adams Kuma and the recently silent general secretary of the association, Rofus Borry.
5. Obuasi Must Live Coalition
Currently, the most vibrant pressure group in the Obuasi Municipality. Obuasi Must Live Coalition took the city and nation by storm when they revealed that AGA was willing to curl up if government does not intervene through their press conference. The campaign also gained much popularity on social media which lead to the creation of a petition which was signed by over 150 residents of Obuasi online. The coalition met with stakeholders in the Municipality and is still trying to get the government to intervene to solve the current impasse.