The National Coalition on Mining (NCOM)-Ghana, a group of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) has called for an explanation on why security personnel have been deployed around mines in the country.

The NCOM comprises 13 CSOs, and works to end human right abuses in mining communities, therefore called on the Ministries of Defence and Interior "to make a full public disclosure of the terms on the rules of rules of engagement under which the security services operate and use their arms".

A statement issued by the coalition and made available to Sompa FM in Sunyani on Friday, also called on the nation to respect her commitments to international human rights protocols by ensuring that mining communities were protected from all forms of harm.

The statement was jointly signed by Messrs Richard Ellimah, Richard Adjei-Poku and Cornelius Adedze, the Executives of the NCOM-Ghana.

"NCOM believes that every Ghana deserves to live in a safe and secure environment while going about their duties.

The state has a responsibility to ensure that this is possible and not only should the state be seen to be protecting corporate interests, it must ensure that its citizens are well protected from the state security agencies", it stated.

It condemned the recent killing of 12 citizens and the wounding of many others by state security operatives in separate incidents at the Newmont Ahafo South Gold Mine at Kenyasi in Ahafo and the AngloGold Ashanti mine in Obuasi.

Sompaonline.com/K.Peprah