“Some large mining companies have also expressed interest in getting some of the concessions Anglogold Ashanti will be ceding”, the chief executive of the minerals commission Dr. Tonyn Aubyn has confirmed.

According to the minerals commission part of the concession would be given out to small scale miners.

This comes few weeks after a member of AngloGold management died following a confrontation between the company and illegal miners popularly referred to as galamsey operators.

AngloGold Ashanti has laid-off close to 5000 workers in the last two years following the fall in the price of gold on the world market making their operations less profitable.

The Company that owns large concessions in Obuasi in the Ashanti region as part of the restructuring of their operations has been negotiating to cede majority of those concessions to government.

According to the Dr. Aubyn , the company has been negotiating with government even before the recent unfortunate incident

There have been several clashes in the past between security operatives of the company and some illegal miners in the area who are taking over their concession without following due process.