An Obuasi based pressure group, Obuasi Must Live Coalition (OMLC) has lauded all major stakeholders who played various roles in maintaining peace and order in Obuasi during the impasse between AngloGold Ashanti and Artisans’ Small Scale Miners Association.
In a press statement signed by the Convener, Mr. Prince Kwame Aboagye, and circulated to all media houses, they applauded the Regional Minister and other big wigs for their great efforts in restoring law and order in the ancient mining town.
“We wish to acknowledge the personal intervention of the Ashanti Regional Minister, Hon. John Alexander Kobina Ackon, Municipal Chief Executive of Obuasi, Hon. Richard Ofori Agyeman Boadi, Presiding Member of the Obuasi Municipal Assembly, Hon. Joseph Festus Kwaku Addai, religious leaders and other opinion leaders who worked tirelessly behind the scenes to resolve the impasse between AngloGold Ashanti and small scale miners”, the statement read.
According to the statement, the Coalition have been in talks with several bodies all in the name of doing away with violence which has been the order of the day recently in Obuasi.
“The key stakeholders we have met include AngloGold Ashanti, traditional rulers, religious leaders, youth groups, government officials and small scale miners association. We are happy to report that these engagements have yielded fruit. This crucial step we took also emphasizes the point that dialogue will always prevail over violence”, they added.
In an email interview with Mr. Prince Kwame Aboagye, he told Obuasitoday.com their Coalition will see to it that both AngloGold Ashanti and Artisans Small Scale Miners will operate peacefully on different concessions in the near future.
“The Obuasi Must Live Coalition is still committed to the goal for which it was formed: to see an Obuasi where AngloGold Ashanti and small scale miners operate on separate concessions peacefully. We are happy that this goal is gradually being realized”, he stated