Young man loses arm during galamsey operation

An attempt by a 20-year-old suspected illegal miner to outwit security personnel on an AngloGold Ashanti concession in Obuasi nearly cost him his life when an explosive he was handling went off, severing his right hand in the process.

According to the police, the victim, Alabila Atia, and about 30 of his accomplices had gone underground on March 19, 2014  when the Anti-Galamsey (AGA) security patrol team arrived unexpectedly.

Atia was said to have lighted an explosive and hurled it at the security team in an attempt to scare them off, but the team took cover.  Atia then lighted a second explosive which rather blew his hand off.

He was rushed to the Edwin Cade Memorial Hospital and later transferred to the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital in Kumasi where he is on admission.

Police confirmation

Confirming the story to the Daily Graphic in a telephone conversation, the Obuasi Divisional Police Commander, Assistant Superintendent of Police Mr Kofi Dwumfour Berchie, said Atia was in the company of about 30 other illegal miners when the incident happened, but the other illegal miners took to their heels after the incident and left Atia to his fate. 

According to Mr Dwumfour, realising that he had nobody to help him out, Atia shouted for help, which drew the attention of the AGA security patrol team to the site.

He said illegal miners had of late been unlawfully acquiring explosives for their activities, a development that posed a danger to workers of AngloGold Ashanti.