Obuasi, Aug. 17, GNA - The future of the Obuasi Mine, which used to be one of the richest goldmines in the world, is being threatened by the upsurge in illegal mining in the municipality.

Mr. Aboagye Ohene-Adu, Community and Social Development Manager of the mine, told newsmen that illegal mining (galamsey) would have serious implications in efforts to increase output.

This followed reports that two persons, a driver of a subsidiary mining company and a supervisor of the mine, were allegedly attacked at Sansu mining area by a group suspected to be illegal miners. Mr. Ohene-Adu said illegal miners had shifted their activities to the Adansi Shaft 'Pillar", a rock that serves as support system to keep the shaft on its feet.

He said the danger was that it could collapse the mine since the future of this mine rested on this pillar. He expressed regret that the company spent a lot of money to desilt Kwabrafo and Nyam streams to check flooding in the outlying communities but the illegal miners had resumed their operations in these streams to negate what had been done.

Mr. Ohene-Adu said the mine was particularly disturbed about the manner the illegal miners competed with company workers underground using offensive weapons like cutlasses, clubs and guns to put fear in the legitimate miners.

"There have been several occasions where AGA workers resist going to work because of the risky environment created by these illegal miners," he said.

Mr. Ohene-Adu said the protection of the global image of the company was paramount and that the security workers of the mine were being trained on these principles. He said the company was engaging its stakeholders including the Ministry of Lands, Forestry and Mines, the Chamber of Mines and the Obuasi Municipal Assembly on how to address the "galamsey" activities. 17 Aug 09