In a tragic incident at the AngloGold Ashanti mine in Ghana, military forces have reportedly killed a minimum of seven individuals identified as illegal miners. According to a statement from the Ghanaian military, approximately 60 individuals breached the mine's security during the night, leading to a violent confrontation with a military patrol.

The local chairman of the Ghana National Association of Small Scale Miners, Kofi Adams, contended that the actual death toll was at least nine, suggesting that the victims were unarmed and merely seeking work. The Ghana Armed Forces, however, framed the incident as a defensive response, asserting that the illegal miners attacked first, which resulted in a significant firefight.

President John Dramani Mahama has expressed deep regret over this incident and has called for an immediate investigation to assess the circumstances surrounding the tragedy. Mahama's administration has requested that AngloGold Ashanti cover the medical expenses of those injured and the burial costs for those killed, as the company confirmed the occurrence of the shootout.

In recent months, illegal gold mining, known as "galamsey," has escalated in Ghana amidst economic strife, leading to environmental damage and heightened tensions with law enforcement. This incident sheds light on the ongoing threat posed by illegal mining operations in the region, which has been a subject of intense scrutiny during national discussions in an economically unstable environment.

As Ghana grapples with being Africa's largest gold producer, the challenge of illegal mining continues to affect both the economy and local communities.

For further details, see the original AP News article.