3 illegal miners die, more dan 30 odas trap inside mine pit wey collapse for Ghana
Dem confam say three pipo don die, anoda pesin dey battle for im life for hospital, afta di pit wey bin dey Akyem Wenchi for di Denkyembour district for di Eastern Region, bin collapse.
E neva dey clear wetin cause di collapse.
Security pipo bin run comot di area wen angry residents storm di place wen dem come for rescue operations.
Oga wey be district chief executive and di chair for di security council, Umar Ahmed tok say "di atmosphere don become dangerous for di rescue team wey bin dey for ground."
"Na so we run comot di place sake of e don become dangerous and unsafe for us when di youth storm di scene wey dem bin dey chant."
Umar Ahmed tok local media say im become afraid wey im gatz to comot di place.
"Dem bin scata my car; di residents bin vex well well, wey dem neva listen to di police for di scene serf, na so we run away," Umar Ahmed tok.
Police for Akwatia bin dey struggle to deal wit illegal mining for dat region since.
"Dat area na galamsey prone area we bin try several times to clear di illegal miners for dia but we neva succeed."
Oga for di district security council say "we go return to di site if we get military reinforcement to kontinu di search."
"From wetin we sabi, ova 30 pipo fit dey trapped inside di pit wey water don also full di pit, if we fit go back quick wit di military, e go beta," Umar Ahmed bin explain.
Authorities bin tok say sake of water don full di mining pit, di rescue effort dey affected for Wednesday evening.
Dis incident bin dey come one day afta di Ghana President John Mahama bin tok say illegal mining (galamsey) don become national emergency, wey demand quick action.
For many part of di kontri, illegal mining bin dey happun, wia di miners don scata waterbodies and forests.
Sabi pipo dey put pressure for govment to declare state of emergency for places wia waterbodies don spoil and forest reserves don scata.
Meanwhile di kontris Attorney General bin write to di economic and organized crime office (EOCO) say make dem investigate two executives of di govment party binational democratic congress (NDC), wey dey allegedly involved for illegal mining.
Di attorney general also bin ask EOCO say make dem expand di investigation to cover di period bifor 2024 when former environment minister professor Kwabena Frimpong Boateng bin find inside one report say plenti ogbonge politicians and govment officials dey allegedly involved for illegal mining under di ex president Nana Akufo-Addo.
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Reuters
a day ago
- Reuters
Ghana deploys soldiers to quell northern chieftancy dispute
ACCRA, July 28 (Reuters) - Ghana has deployed more soldiers to a northeastern region where a long-running conflict over chieftancy has fuelled recent violence, including attacks on schools, a spokesperson for President John Dramani Mahama said. The Bawku chieftaincy conflict, which goes back decades, has remained one of Ghana's most protracted ethnic flash points, often resulting in violent clashes and loss of lives. It is rooted in a dispute between the Mamprusi and Kusaasi ethnic groups over who can appoint a chief for the area. Mediation efforts by Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, known as the Asantehene, Ghana's most revered traditional ruler, had "almost brought finality to the conflict" but recent killings have "necessitated drastic actions" to control it, presidential spokesperson Felix Kwakye Ofosu said in his statement on Sunday. Violence in the area last week included the killing of a Kusaasi chief as well as three high school students by gunmen who stormed their campuses, according to local media reports. Ofosu did not specify on Sunday how many additional soldiers were being deployed to the area near the border with Burkina Faso. Some soldiers were already present in the area, but officials have not disclosed details. In a separate statement, Ofosu said a curfew would be in place from 1400 GMT until 0600 GMT "until further notice". He said the measure would help restore order and facilitate the evacuation of students.
BBC News
a day ago
- BBC News
Ghana govment withdraw students from schools as fight for Bawku rise, oda tins to know about di kasala
One chieftaincy conflict bin dey go on for one part of Ghana for more dan 60 years. Di 'Bawku conflict' na between two ethnic groups for di Upper East region of di kontri and according to sabi pipo di fight na sake of who go rule di pipo on top di land. Ova di years, tension don dey di area wia fight don dey happun every time. E bin lead to death of many pipo wey dem destroy properties. Govment afta govment don struggle to deal wit di conflict. Di small arms commission and oda groups raise alarm about weapons wey bin dey move around for dat part of di kontri as di conflict dey continue. One lawmaker wey be ex-senior police officer Peter Toobu tok for local radio network Joy FM for April 2025 say tins don dey get out of hand. "Di flow of weapons for Bawku na real tin, di proliferation of small arms and light weapons for dis kontri na big matter." Im add say "e dey possible say pipo wey bin dey trade in arms for dia go dey make plenty money." Im also fear say oda pipo don dey "radicalise di youth" for Bawku to continue di conflict. Recently, di youth for di area don attack security personnel - dem also kill some of dem, sometin oga Peter Toobu, di retired police office dey worried about. Q: Wetin happun over di weekend Ova di weekend, gunmen don allegedly storm senior high school campus for Bawku and Nalerigu wia dem open fire. Dem bin kill two male students for di Nalerigu senior high school Saturday evening. Assembly member for di Denugi electoral area confam di tori, according to state news outlet daily graphic. Anoda kasala happun for di Bawku senior high school dat same Saturday night wey dem allegedly kill one student for dia. Dem don also allegedly set di house of di member of parliament for Bawku, Mahama Ayariga on fire. Dis no be di first di house of di MP bin dey under attack for di last few months. Q: Why dem shutdown schools wey dem evacuate students Di municipal education office shut down di Bawku senior high school indefinitely afta di death of di student. Director for di education office oga Isaac Agbeko announce di closure of di school "sake of safety concerns for both students and teachers." Inside one statement from di govment communication minister, dem tok say dem dey "evacuate students from di Nalerigu and Bawku senior high schools" afta di tension bin rise. "As part of govment effort to enforce peace for dia, we bin dey evacuate all students from various educational institutions for di affected areas, some of wey bin dey targeted for di conflict," Felix Kwakye Ofosu, di govment tok tok pesin write inside di statement. Q: Why dem renew curfew for Bawku, Nalerigu and dia environs Di latest tension don force di interior ministry to revise di curfew time for those areas. Inside one statement di interior minister Muntaka Mohammed tok say "wit di advice of di North East regional security council and by executive instrument, we don impose curfew hours for Nalerigu and di oda townships from 2 PM to 6 AM effective Sunday 27 July, 2025." "Dis na until further notice; govment bin dey call on di chiefs, elders, di youth and pipo for dia to exercise restraint for dis tough time and use non-violent means to ensure peace." Di ministry also tok say "we don ban all pipo for Nalerigu and di oda communities from carrying arms, ammunition and any oda offensive weapon." "Any pesin we go find wit arms and ammunition go dey arrested and prosecuted." Dem ban motorbikes afta dem kill one local Kusaase chief for Asawase for Ashanti region Q: Why dem ban motorbikes, smock and oda clothes for Kumasi Bifor di weekend killings for Nalerigu and Bawku, dem bin kill two pipo for di Ashanti region; of dem na local chief of Kusaase - Alhaji Abdul-Malik Azengbe. Police begin investigation for di matter but sabi pipo tink say dey connected to di same Bawku conflict sake of one of di feuding parties bin dey involved. Afta di death of di local chief di Ashanti regional security council don take some measures - no motorbikes go dey allowed on top di road between 7PM and 6AM until further notice - motorbike riders no dey allowed to carry passengers or additional pesin during di day - di use of unregistered motorbikes dey banned - di inter-tribal football competition wey bin dey go on for di area dey suspended wit immediate effect - no motorbike rider dey permitted to wear smock, jacket or three-piece suits as pipo bin dey use dem to hide weapons - pipo no dey allowed to carry weapons whether dem dey licensed or not inside dia cars or on top motorbikes - dem increase police and soldiers for hotspot areas for di region - di security go do random stop-and-search for checkpoints Q: Wetin govment do to beef up security for Bawku, Nalerigu Govment step up peace enforcement for Bawku and oda affected areas due to di "escalation of violence wey bin dey affect peace-building efforts by di govment." Inside di statement govment say "di armed forces don deploy soldiers to maintain law and order as we intensify curfews to ensure public safety." "We bin dey assure di public say di Ghana armed forces go take all necessary strips to protect lives and property," di govment tok tok pesin add. Dis no be di first time govment bin dey deploy soldiers to Bawku for dis chieftaincy conflict. But dem dey hope say dis latest deployment go help di situation. Q: Wetin be di status of mediation to bring peace dia Di latest kasala bin dey affect mediation efforts. Di govment don select di Ashanti king say make im lead mediation efforts for di conflict. For 2 July 2025 di King Otumfuo Osei Tutu II resume mediation wia im hold close-door meeting wit leaders of di factions. Dis bin follow meetings im do separately wit representatives of di two factions for 29 April 2025. Govment bin dey commend di Ashanti king Otumfuo Osei Tutu II and di stakeholders wey bin dey involved for dis mediation. "Di Otumfuo mediation wit di help if Nayiri (overlord of Mamprugu kingdom) and Zugraana (paramount chief of di Kusaug traditional area for Bawku), don almost solve di conflict bifor di latest killings wey don call for ogbonge action to protect everybody." Di conflict for Bawku don affect many tins - education, health, business and odas. Di inspector general of police Christian Tetteh Yohuno don visit di area recently afta dem appoint am as new IGP. Im appeal to di youth for dia to "lay down dia arms", but tension still dey di communities. Q: Wetin President Mahama tok about di kasala President John Mahama say govment dey committed to "restore lasting peace and stability for Bawku." "We believe say peace for Bawku na national matter wey bin dey require everybody so say justice go prevail make we solve dis issue wit dialogue." Di president tok dis on 20 July 2025 when delegation of pipo from di Mamprugu chief bin pay courtesy call for di presidency. Im tok say di Bawku conflict bin dey affect everybody for di area including all di ethic groups dia. Public sector workers like teachers, nurses, among odas don run comot di area sake of di tension wey odas neva dey want posting to di area sake of di tension. "Nobody dey happy about dis situation for Bawku but we go do our best to address di matter."
The Guardian
2 days ago
- The Guardian
Blue gold: how a Ghana mine's troubles hit workers and UK politicians – and could cost British taxpayers
In late 2020, amid the economic maelstrom unleashed by Covid-19, there were few better places to be than sitting on top of a goldmine. In Ghana, the west African country once called the Gold Coast by British colonisers, the Bogoso-Prestea mine was producing 4,000 ounces of the precious metal a month, valued at $6m (£4.5m). As gold prices reached record highs, London-based Blue International Holdings – a seasoned investor in African energy projects, pounced to buy the mine for $95m. Blue International promised 'attractive financial returns while having a positive impact on the communities and countries in which it operates, and the planet as a whole', according to its website. It enjoyed the backing of a trio of British political heavyweights, including two members of the House of Lords and a government minister. Yet, a few short years later, its future appears to have tarnished. And, as the Guardian reveals now, the venture appears to have resulted in collateral damage to everyone from Ghanaian mineworkers to a member of the British royal family, a billionaire backer of the GB News TV channel and, possibly, UK taxpayers. 'Blue Gold is a scam' read a placard, as protesters, backed by a brass band, voiced their discontent in February 2024. It was the latest in a string of demonstrations as miners and suppliers in the resource-rich Ashanti gold belt demanded to know why they were seeing no benefit from the precious metal buried beneath their feet. Four years earlier, when Blue International arrived, the future had seemed promising. The company boasted a track record of African investment stretching back to 2011, steered by its co-founders Andrew Cavaghan and Mark Green, professional investors with financial pedigree. As well as its new goldmine in southern Ghana, the company also owned a promising hydroelectric power project in Sierra Leone, a partnership with the government in Freetown. It came with a phalanx of prestige backers, drawn from the British political and business elite. Lord Dannatt, the former head of the British army, and Lord Triesman, a Foreign Office minister with responsibility for UK diplomatic relations in Africa, served on its advisory board. So, too, did Philip Green, who was rebuilding his reputation after the implosion of the government outsourcer Carillion, which collapsed during his time as chair in 2018. John Glen, a Treasury minister between 2018 and 2023, held shares in the company. The UK taxpayer was also significantly exposed. In early 2024, it emerged that the Treasury had lent Blue International £3.3m of taxpayers' money via the 'Future Fund' the previous year. Glen, the MP for Salisbury in Wiltshire, said he was not aware of the loan application when he served at the Treasury and there is no suggestion that he did. The Future Fund was designed, in the words of then chancellor Rishi Sunak, to support 'start-ups and innovative firms' survive the pandemic by extending them loans that converted into equity. In this case, the money supported a company engaged in extracting valuable minerals from African soil. In mining, all can appear calm on the surface, even as things fall apart below ground. By the time British taxpayers' money was pumped into Blue International, its Ghanaian venture was on the brink of a financial collapse whose tremors reached from rural west Africa to the City of London. Within two years of Blue International's takeover, operations at Bogoso-Prestea had been shut down several times, according to corporate filings and contemporary reports. Mineworkers blamed lack of investment from Blue, which owned and operated the mine via a local subsidiary, Future Global Resources (FGR). Lack of output choked off cashflow and increased costs, as equipment failed or required maintenance, according to one corporate filing. FGR failed to pay local suppliers, including the Ghanaian state electricity company, while mineworkers were left out of pocket, according to filings, fuelling local protests. 'It had devastating consequences,' said Abdul-Moomin Gbana, the general secretary of the Ghana Mineworkers' Union (GMWU). He said workers' salaries went unpaid for months, hitting the community hard. 'General conditions declined because they had no income. The communities virtually became ghost towns,' he said. 'It became obvious that if nothing was done, there was no way there could be a future for the mine.' Blue Gold declined to answer questions about the claims of unpaid wages, and directed questions to FGR. FGR did not respond to requests for comment. Eventually, in 2024, the Ghanaian government issued an ultimatum. Blue International must restore the mine to working production or hand back its lease, the right to own and operate the site. The company tried to issue bonds – a form of IOU – in Ghana to raise cash that could be invested in bringing the mine back to production but the fundraising effort stalled. The directors behind Blue International, Cavaghan and Green, restructured the debt-laden mine's ownership, moving it into a new entity called Blue Gold, also owned and incorporated by them, as part of a plan to raise new investment in the US. Despite this, in late 2024, the government of Ghana made good on its threat to seize back the Bogoso-Prestea lease. A legal challenge from the company failed earlier this year in Ghana's high court and the mine was handed over to a new operator. Sign up to Business Today Get set for the working day – we'll point you to all the business news and analysis you need every morning after newsletter promotion Blue International's travails were not felt only by Ghanaian miners and the surrounding community. The British taxpayer's investment in the business now appeared to be under threat too. But it was blue-blooded lenders that suffered the more profound consequences. In 2021, at the start of its Ghanaian venture, Blue International had borrowed about $5m from Devonport Capital, a bespoke lender specialising in 'high-risk' jurisdictions, offering short-term loans at relatively high interest rates. Devonport, headquartered in Plymouth, was founded by Paul Bailey, a corporate lawyer who had carved out a niche advising investors in postwar Iraq. His partner was Thomas Kingston, who had also worked in Iraq conducting hostage negotiations for the UK Foreign Office in Baghdad, where he had witnessed first-hand the horrors of sectarian violence. In the UK, Kingston was better known for his marriage, in 2019, to Lady Gabriella Windsor, a second cousin of King Charles III. With this experienced and well-connected duo at the helm, Devonport thrived, recording pre-tax profit of £6m in 2023. But as Blue International's Ghanaian woes mounted, it began defaulting on the interest payments it owed to Devonport. Another of Devonport's important borrowers also defaulted at the same time, leaving the lender increasingly unable to repay its own creditors. Then, in February 2024, personal tragedy struck. Thomas Kingston died from a gunshot wound at his parents' home in the Cotswolds on 25 February. A coroner ruled that he had taken his own life. Torn apart by a combination of personal tragedy and the ongoing inability to recover its debts, Devonport fell into administration a year later. A report published in March by the administrator, RG Insolvency, lists creditors who had lent money to Devonport. Among them is Christopher Chandler, a New Zealand businessman and founder of Dubai-based investment company Legatum, which funds UK media channel GB News. Chandler declined to comment. Creditors also include HM Revenue and Customs, which is owed more than £788,000. RG Insolvency estimates that, of the £49m owed by Devonport, as little as £11.2m could be recovered. Much will depend on whether administrators can recoup about £13.5m owed by Blue International. Earlier this year, the team behind Blue International completed a $114.5m combination with a US 'blank cheque' investment firm called Perception Capital, and floating the combined entity on the US Nasdaq stock exchange under the Blue Gold name. What comes next is murky at best. Blue Gold's new website outlines ambitious plans to reopen the Bogoso-Prestea mine. But Ghana appears to be sticking by its decision to strip Blue of the lease. The dispute is now the subject of international arbitration, according to a stock market filing by Blue Gold, leaving the mine's future up in the air. In an annual report filed in the US, Blue Gold admits that the leases may never be returned, which would reduce the value of the company's assets from $368m to less than $45m. A section on the company website offers little further clarity, stating: 'Subject to resolving legal dispute with the government of Ghana, first gold pour is expected.' The Guardian approached the Foreign Office to ask if the UK government had intervened on Blue Gold's behalf with ministers in Accra. The department declined to comment. Dannatt and Triesman also declined to comment. Glen said he had not discussed the company's Ghanaian dispute with any UK government department, official or diplomat. On the ground in Ghana,local sources say little has changed, with operations still shut down under a new owner and mineworkers still left unpaid. The uncertainty means that, for everyone from local mineworkers to members of the British establishment, the dream of blue gold remains a mirage, tantalisingly out of reach. The Guardian approached Blue Gold for comment. The company referred the Guardian to its website and shareholder filings but did not address questions directly. Paul Bailey did not return requests for comment. RG Insolvency declined to comment.
