Police arrest illegal miners over invasion of Earl International Group’s property

Three illegal miners have been arrested for injuring five private guards at the Earl International Group Gold Ghana Limited’s underground mine.

A statement from the mining company said these illegal miners, numbering over 30, were spotted in Shaft 2 Level 3 underground.

The illegal miners are said to have invaded the mine area to pilfer blasted ore and mine their stopes.

However, the security guards on duty at the said time spotted them and moved in to stop them, but the armed illegal miners attacked an expatriate and the security guards deployed underground, inflicting varying degrees of injury on five (5) guards.

However, three out of the over 30 people were arrested.

Read Full Statement Below

UNDERGROUND ATTACK BY ILLEGAL MINERS INJURES FIVE (5) SECURITY GUARDS

Friday, July 12, 2024 – Earl International Group Gold Ghana Limited is saddened to confirm a violent attack on our private guards in our underground mine by illegal miners.

While on night duties at approximately 9:00 p.m. on Thursday, July 11, 2024, at Shaft 2 Level 3 underground, our staff spotted illegal miners numbering over 30 who had invaded the mine area to pilfer blasted ore and mine our stopes. The situation required the intervention of our security guards, who were called upon to flush out the illegal miners and effect some arrests.

The illegal miners, who were apparently armed with harmful weapons, attacked an expatriate and the security guards deployed underground, inflicting varying degrees of injury on five (5) guards.

Three of the illegal miners were arrested.

This latest incident reflects the daily challenge we face in our operations due to the presence and activities of illegal miners in our concession. The unauthorized entry of these individuals into our underground area through illegal pits they construct within our concession is a persistent concern.

These illegal miners have become even more brazen, descending into our underground area immediately after blasts or hiding in cross-cuts or stopes before blasts to pilfer ore.

On the night of Wednesday, June 26, 2024, the diligence of our blast man at the same Shaft 2 averted a potential disaster when approximately 50 people were found hiding underground just before a blast was scheduled to occur.

We are deeply concerned about the high level of risk and recklessness these illegal miners are undertaking and the disruptions they cause to our operations.

We will continue to engage our stakeholders and regulators in mitigating this troubling situation.

-PUBLIC RELATIONS DEPARTMENT