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Anglogold Ashanti has rejected claims that illegal miners occupying the Obuasi mine have been removed by the Ashanti Regional Police Command.

According to a statement issued by the company, the illegal miners continue to occupy and operate on parts of the mine.

This comes after the Ashanti Regional Police Command denied having withdrawn partially the SWAT team sent to the site.

Anglogold Ashanti early last week partially suspended operations rendering only essential services following clashes between illegal miners and some of its staff, leading to the death of the company’s Communications Specialist, John Owusu.

The situation has deteriorated, with more illegal miners entering the site each day.

Anglogold Ashanti in a statement said to date authorities have neither acted to stem the flow of illegal miners to the mine site, nor removed those already there.

“The latest invasion of Anglogold Ashanti’s mine site follows the withdrawal of government military protection from the mine on Tuesday, February 2, after initial incursions on January 30 and 31, 2016.”

According to the mining firm, if the situation is allowed to continue it could threaten the long-term viability of the mine and AngloGold Ashanti Ghana’s ability to continue its feasibility study and maintain critical services, which serve both the operations and surrounding communities.

The company says: “It is crucial that government works with the company to resolve the current illegal occupation of the site by the illegal miners which they believe not only poses a direct threat to the safety of employees, their families and other community members, but also threatens the viability of Obuasi, and jeopardises its long-term contribution to Ghana’s economy.”