Heavily armed soldiers opened fire to disperse protesters in the mining town of Obuasi in Ghana’s Ashanti region amid a military crackdown on miners whom the government considers illegal.
Authorities on Monday arrested seven illegal miners for leaving a mine belonging to one of the world’s largest gold miners, AngloGold, according to the company.

Reports then spread on Tuesday that hundreds of other miners were trapped underground. It is unclear whether those who remain underground are unable or unwilling to come out.

Relatives said the miners had been trapped for days without food or water. Dozens of people going out have been arrested for illegal activity in the area, their families told Al Jazeera, adding that police are demanding cash payments for their release.
“My husband is among those trapped,” an unnamed woman told Al Jazeera. “There are no other jobs in the area, so we depend on mining for a living.”
The woman said police demanded $2,700 each for their release.
One man told Al Jazeera that people still underground could hear screams. “They died!” he say. “What’s wrong with people going to work trying to make ends meet?”

AngloGold said in a statement on Tuesday that “unauthorized persons underground can get out”.
“No one underground is restricted in any way and the exit from the main mine remains open,” he said, according to AFP.

Clash broke out
On Tuesday, people began to gather outside the local police station, chanting, burning car tires and blocking roads.
The mayor of the town, Faustina Amissah, confirmed that soldiers had been deployed.
“The situation became chaotic, so the security officers did what was lawful to keep the peace,” she said, adding that protesters had “sabotaged a bus carrying 52 suspect to the police station.”
A local journalist sent AFP pictures showing heavily armed soldiers on the streets of Obuasi and said he had to “hide”. Neither the police nor the military were available for comment.

Illegal mining is widespread in the West African country, where many poor communities see it as a way to make a living.
Since taking office in 2017, President Nana Akufo-Addo has promised to eliminate “galamsey” from the country, the name locals give to illegal mining.
Authorities regularly crack down on illegal sites, taking away miners, but despite everything, the activity continues.
The Obuasi mine, which extends 1,500 meters (nearly 5,000 feet) below the surface, produced 250,000 troy ounces (7,776 kg) of gold last year.