The mining company operating the Gbane gold mine in the Upper East Region has alleged that 13 private security guards were assaulted and forcibly taken away by armed men from its underground mining operations.
In a statement, Earl Group said the incident occurred on October 8, 2026, at Shaft 2, Level 2, where underground welders were repairing and reassembling equipment and barricades allegedly damaged by unidentified intruders.
The welders were accompanied by 16 security guards from Reliable Protection Services, who had been deployed to protect the workers and ensure the work proceeded safely, according to the company.
Earl Group said dozens of men wielding offensive weapons subsequently stormed the work area, disrupted operations, confiscated welding machines and assaulted the security guards.
The company alleged that 13 of the guards were seized and taken to the surface through an illicit mining pit before being held at a house it identified as belonging to Zongdaan Boyak Kolog, popularly known as Poloo, who operates Nanlamtaaba Enterprise.
Management said a report was made to the police, prompting the deployment of a joint police and military team to rescue the guards. However, the company said the guards had reportedly been moved to an unknown location by the time the team arrived.
Subsequent reports indicated that the guards were being transported to the Regional Police Command in Bolgatanga, according to the statement.
Earl Group said the guards were later released on police inquiry bail for medical examination, after which management lodged a formal complaint of assault against operatives of Nanlamtaaba Enterprise.
The company also rejected reports suggesting that the guards had been apprehended while allegedly attempting to start a fire underground. It maintained that they had been deployed to protect workers carrying out repair activities when the incident occurred.
Earl Group said the Gbane mine had initially operated on a 50-acre mining area, producing an average of 800 tonnes of ore daily. It said prospects from that area led to the acquisition of a large-scale mining lease covering 16.02 square kilometres in Gbane. The current mining area, according to the company, covers 260 acres.
The company called on state authorities and security agencies to intervene to protect workers, restore security in the affected underground areas and ensure that those responsible for any wrongdoing are held accountable under the law.
It also alleged repeated attacks against its workers and the forceful occupation of mining areas outside the disputed zone.
The allegations have not been independently verified. The police and Nanlamtaaba Enterprise should be contacted for their accounts of the incident and the status of the complaint.
