Kofi Ampeah Woode
The Managing Director (MD) of AngloGold Ashanti Company Limited – Mr Eric Asubonteng has pledged his largescale mining company’s preparedness to construct a Forward Operating Base (FOB) for the Ghana Army (GA) at Wawase, Obuasi, in the Ashanti Region of Ghana, if the Army would heed his plea for an increase in troops providing security for the company.
The MD made the request to the Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) – Major General (Maj Gen) Thomas Oppong–Peprah when the latter paid a working visit to the company’s Obuasi Mines on Thursday 27 April, 2023, and was conducted round the mining concession, to show him the security and safety challenges posed by illegal mining activities, known as Galamsey.
There already is an existing accord under which a GA Detachment – which is being relocated to Sinking Village – provides security for AngloGold Ashanti. The company, which deems GA as a trusted and capable partner in the conduct of their activities, commenced the construction of a 200–bed accommodation for the Army Peace Operations Training School (APOTS) at the Battle Training Camp, Bundase, in the Greater Accra Region, in January 2023.
The COAS, who also inspected progress of the relocation, advised the Management of AngloGold to engage more with the communities, to resolve their differences and ensure peaceful coexistence for the mutual benefit of the company and the communities around its operations.
In an interaction with the Detachment, Maj Gen T Oppong-Peprah admonished the GA troops to desist from all acts of misconduct, and revealed that new set of uniforms, boots, berets, socks an vests would be issued to troops by midyear.
In the COAS’ entourage were Brigadier General (Brig Gen) Joseph Aphour and Brig Gen Charles Agyemang-Prempeh – the outgoing and incoming General Officers Commanding of the Central Command, respectively, Deputy Chief Staff Officer, Logistics, Army Headquarters – Brig Gen Kenneth Kwaku Kwaah Kumi, Service Financial Comptroller, Army – Lieutenant Colonel (Lt Col) Miki Nkrumah, General Staff Officer Grade I (Future Operations) – Lt Col EA Osae, Second in Command of 4 Infantry Battalion – Major SK Dapaah, and the Acting Sergeant Major of the Army – Senior Warrant Officer Class 1 Dormah TR.
