Dumsor Alert: Illegal Miners Target GRIDCo Site at Konongo1 min read

Illegal mining, commonly referred to as galamsey, is threatening to disrupt power supply in Konongo and nearby areas in the Ashanti and Eastern Regions.

Miners have encroached on the Northern Ashanti Mines’ concession, endangering GRIDCo substation pylons and putting critical infrastructure at risk.

A substation within this operational zone is now vulnerable due to ongoing illegal mining activities, which have already compromised several pylons. This situation raises the specter of power outages impacting Konongo Township and its surrounding communities.

Despite the mining company’s security task force efforts, illegal mining remains rampant. Frustration mounts as attempts to enlist the help of local security bodies, including the Municipal Security Council (MUSEC) and the Ashanti Regional Security Council (REGSEC), have proven ineffective.

In a troubling turn of events, the mining company’s security team recently faced an attack from armed individuals, resulting in injuries and property damage.

The ongoing conflict poses a serious threat not only to mining operations but also to the region’s power supply.

With intelligence suggesting that illegal miners plan another assault on the mine and its personnel on Thursday, October 10, the company is bracing for a potential confrontation between its security forces and the galamseyers.