The National Democratic Congress (NDC) Majority Caucus in Parliament on Tuesday condemned the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Minority Caucus’ “desperate attempts” to politicize the tragic deaths of nine illegal miners in Obuasi.
A report released by the Ghana Armed Forces indicates that on Sunday, January 20,2025, some illegal miners allegedly invaded an abandoned mining concession belonging to global mine giant AngloGold Ashanti in the Ashanti Region.
This led to clashes between the soldiers guarding the concession and the miners, leading to deaths and injuries. Addressing the media at the Parliament House in Accra, Dr Cassiel Ato Baah Forson, the Majority Leader, described the Minority Caucus politicization of the matter as “regrettable and most unfortunate”. He stated that President John Dramani Mahama had already ordered full-scale investigations into the incident and called for support and cooperation by all stakeholders to ensure a holistic approach in investigating the matter.
“We in Parliament have noted a desperate attempt by the NPP Minority in Parliament to politicize the matter. “The NPP falsely claimed that there is a so-called upsurge in political violence in the country. They’re also creating a misleading impression that the unfortunate demise of the miners was as a result of political violence,” Dr Forson noted. The Majority leader averred that instead of the Minority Caucus sympathizing with the bereaved families were rather dabbling in “cheap politics,” he stated.
Dr Forson was of the belief that the President’s directive to investigate the incident would ensure an impartial, timely and efficient investigation in due course. He expressed the Majority Caucus’ readiness to work with the NPP Minority Caucus if they so desired to help the country recover from the economic downturn.
Source: GNA
