A concerned citizen of Obuasi, Hajia Bintu Saana, has petitioned the National Chief Imam, Dr. Sheikh Osmanu Nuhu Sharubutu, over the unresolved impasse between AngloGold Ashanti and Obuasi youth that led to the death of nine people.
Speaking to reporters, the broadcaster recalled that it has been over a year since the National Chief Imam visited Obuasi to speak with the bereaved families — many of them Muslims — to help calm tensions following the incident.
“It’s been more than a year since the Chief Imam came to Obuasi to console the affected families, and yet nothing has been done for them,” she said.
According to Hajia Saana, the petition is to appeal to Dr. Sharubutu to return to Obuasi and brief the families on what transpired during discussions between AngloGold Ashanti officials and relatives of the nine deceased.
“We want the Chief Imam to come back and tell us what actually happened at the discussion table between the company and the affected families. The families deserve closure,” she added.
She added that, as a citizen of Obuasi, she is not concluding that AngloGold Ashanti is at fault or that the deceased persons were. Rather, she wants the law to take its full course to establish what actually transpired between AngloGold Ashanti and the Obuasi youth, especially since dozens of people are still nursing injuries from the encounter.
She also used the opportunity to plead with government to address unemployment in Obuasi, so the youth can find meaningful work and help prevent future occurrences of such clashes between AGL and the Obuasi youth.
Report by Bernard K Dadzie Greater Accra Region
