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Schools in Obuasi and Obuasi East municipalities in the Ashanti Region have been temporarily closed for two days following heightened tensions in the gold mining town.
The unrest was sparked by a violent confrontation on Saturday, January 18, 2025, between illegal miners and military personnel at AngloGold Ashanti’s mining concession. The clash, which occurred after an alleged breach of the company’s security fence, resulted in the deaths of at least seven miners and injuries to several others.
In the aftermath, tensions escalated further as illegal miners reportedly staged protests in Obuasi on Sunday morning, demanding justice for their deceased colleagues. The unrest prompted authorities to deploy heavy security to the area to restore order.
As a precaution, all public and private schools in the affected municipalities have been ordered to close temporarily. Students and teachers have been directed to stay home on Monday, January 20, and Tuesday, January 21, to ensure their safety.
George Koomson, Director of Education for Obuasi Municipality, stated, “We can’t guarantee the safety of both learners and teachers, so we’ve agreed that for tomorrow [Monday] and possibly Tuesday, we will not be going to school. The contact hours will be missed, and recouping the lost hours will be difficult.”
President John Mahama has responded to the situation by directing AngloGold Ashanti to cover the medical expenses of the injured individuals. He has also called for a thorough investigation into the incident to determine the circumstances that led to the tragic loss of lives.
