Fresh concerns are being raised over escalating illegal mining activities on the concession of Northern Ashanti Mines Company Limited at Konongo in the Ashanti Region, following a near-fatal incident involving nine illegal miners trapped in an abandoned mine shaft.
The development has renewed calls for urgent intervention by state security agencies to clamp down on the growing threat of illegal mining encroachment within the area.
Management of the mining company, a subsidiary of Nguvu Mining Limited, says illegal miners continue to invade sections of its legally acquired concession despite ongoing redevelopment works and repeated warnings against trespassing.
According to the company, the latest incident exposed the dangerous nature of unauthorized mining activities on abandoned shafts and old underground structures within the concession.
The company disclosed that the matter has already been reported to the Police and other security agencies for investigations, while intensified engagements are underway with the Military, Municipal Security Council (MUSEC), Regional Security Council (REGSEC), and traditional authorities to restore order and prevent further encroachment.
Management warned that the persistent activities of illegal miners not only endanger lives but also pose a significant security and environmental threat to the entire enclave.
Industry observers say the situation highlights the urgent need for coordinated security operations to dismantle illegal mining networks operating on legally protected concessions across the country.
Northern Ashanti Mines Company Limited currently holds a 163 square kilometre mining and prospecting concession in the Konongo enclave and is undertaking major redevelopment works expected to revive large-scale mining operations in the area.
The company says over $23 million has already been invested in the construction of a new processing plant, representing more than 85 percent of the current project phase. The broader redevelopment programme, including a Tailings Storage Facility (TSF), Water Treatment Plant, and ancillary infrastructure, is projected to cost about $43 million.
Management insists that continued encroachment by illegal miners threatens not only investor confidence but also the company’s efforts to promote responsible mining, local employment, community development, and environmental sustainability in the Ashanti Region.
The company has therefore appealed to security agencies to intensify surveillance and enforcement measures around the concession to safeguard lives, protect critical infrastructure, and support lawful mining operations.
