"Following an extensive search operation, the victim's body was discovered in the Ahafo mine's mining area and recovered late Friday, 26 July," the company said.

It said four other security guards were injured during the confrontation on Thursday.

"We are supporting our security provider in its efforts to assist the injured as well as the family of the deceased," acting regional senior vice president of Africa operations Kwame Addo-Kufuor said.

The company said it was assisting police with investigations and operations were continuing as normal.

Ahafo was briefly suspended 15 months ago after six members of a contractor crew were killed by a roof collapse. 

The rise of artisanal mining in Africa and South America is posing significant social, environmental and economic questions, a mining lawyers' forum heard last month.

The issue made global headlines last month when about 40 illegal miners died in a gallery collapse at a copper-cobalt mine in the Democratic Republic of Congo operated by a Glencore subsidiary. 

Newmont Goldcorp Ghana said it would continue working with other stakeholders to ensure the safety of the people working at its operations.