Obuasi, Ghana – On the somber one-year anniversary of a deadly shooting that claimed nine lives, former parliamentary aspirant for the Obuasi East constituency, Hajia Bintu Saana, has donated essential food items to the families of the victims, highlighting their continued suffering and the unfulfilled promises from the state and mine management.
The donation, which included bags of rice and other supplies worth thousands of Ghana Cedis, was specifically targeted at the widows and children of those killed on 18 January 2025.
The tragedy occurred when a group of men from the Obuasi municipality attempted to enter the AngloGold Ashanti mining concession. Reports indicate that a confrontation with military personnel guarding the site escalated into gunfire, leaving nine men dead and several others seriously injured, sending shockwaves throughout the community.
In the aftermath, President John Dramani Mahama assured the nation and the families of a thorough investigation and appropriate compensation. However, one year later, the official cause of the shooting remains unclear, and no compensation has been delivered by the state or AngloGold Ashanti management.
Speaking on behalf of Hajia Bintu Saana during the donation, Assembly Member for Samsonkrom, Abdul Rahman Siedu, popularly known as Ogyege, praised the humanitarian gesture.
“Hajia Bintu saw the profound need and has acted from the heart. This is a private gesture of support in these difficult times,” Siedu said. “But let us be clear: this cannot replace justice or the compensation promised by the state. We urge the government to finally come to the aid of these families. The President’s promise must be more than just words.”
The event also provided a platform for community leaders to voice broader concerns. Emmanuel Kofi Ayamga, a prominent youth leader in Obuasi, directly linked the incident to the high rate of unemployment in the municipality.
“We are appealing to the President to restore hope here,” Ayamga said. “There are no jobs for our young people, and it is very worrying. We do not want a repeat of what happened. It is astounding how this critical issue seems to go unnoticed by our leaders. We warn of the dangers ahead if this is ignored.”
Family members of the victims, gathered to receive the donation, shared their ongoing grief and sense of abandonment.
“My husband went there because there was no work. He never returned,” said one widow, who requested anonymity. “Who will raise our children? We were promised support and justice, but we have seen nothing. We are pleading for leadership to let justice prevail.”
While Hajia Bintu Saana’s donation provides temporary relief, it also underscores the unresolved tensions in Obuasi. Questions about the stalled investigation, lack of accountability for the shootings, and the continued economic hardships facing local youth remain unanswered, leaving a shadow of injustice over the community a full year after the tragedy.
Story by Doe Benjamin Kofi Lawson