Obuasi, Sept. 23, GNA - Twenty-one persons who allegedly entered level 1,600 feet underground of the George Carpendell Shaft (GCS) belonging to AngloGold Ashanti to illegally prospect for gold have been remanded by a circuit court at Obuasi.

The plea of the accused persons including a 17-year-old boy, Awudu, was not taken and they are to re-appear before the court presided over by Mr E A Asante on October 17.

A combined team of security personnel made up of the company's staff of the Asset Protection Department, the police and the military arrested them on Thursday evening while they were in operation. In their possession were a number of sacks filled with gold-bearing rocks and offensive weapons and explosives.

Briefing newsmen minutes after the arrest at the GCS offices, Colonel Steve Oduro-Kwarteng (rtd), Head of the Asset Protection Department of the company said a report was received that the illegal miners had taken over the operations at level 1,600 feet of the GCS. He said armed with offensive weapons, they succeeded in chasing the company's workers out of the area to enable them to have a field day. Col Oduro-Kwarteng said some security personnel were despatched to the area but because of the large number they met underground, there was the need for reinforcement and so additional security men including the military were sent there to effect the arrest.

Azika, 23, one of the illegal miners, told the press that some had spent three days at that level whilst others went there two days later. Earlier on Tuesday, the company undertook an exercise to seal off illegal pits constructed by the illegal miners which linked the company's underground mining areas. Mr Ahmed Bashir, the Mine Manager for South Mine, told the press that the activities of the illegal miners were disturbing the operations of the mine.