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The Minority in Parliament, led by its leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin, has announced plans to embark on a fact-finding mission to Obuasi in the Ashanti Region following violent clashes between local miners and AngloGold Ashanti. The conflict, which claimed nine lives and left several injured, involved confrontations between local miners and military personnel assigned to protect AngloGold Ashanti’s operations.
Addressing the media, Afenyo-Markin expressed deep concern over the incident and called for immediate action to identify and address the root causes of the violence. He stressed the need for a credible and transparent investigation to ensure justice and restore confidence in the affected community.
“If the government does not act – we don’t want any empty action but a comprehensive action that people will have confidence in. So this Parliament will have to constitute a committee to immediately visit Obuasi to get into this matter and ensure that the business community gets the assurances that the business community is safe to do business in all other places that there is violence,” he said.
The Minority Leader emphasized the importance of peaceful coexistence among all stakeholders, including local communities, mining companies, and security agencies. He urged for measures that would safeguard the interests of all parties while ensuring that business activities in mining areas can proceed without fear of conflict or violence.
Afenyo-Markin also highlighted Parliament’s critical role in exercising oversight and fostering public trust in resolving such crises. He reiterated the Minority’s commitment to protecting the rights of all affected individuals and maintaining a safe environment for business operations in the region.
The Minority’s decision to intervene reflects their dedication to addressing issues that threaten the peace and stability of mining communities and ensuring accountability in the wake of such tragic incidents.