The Ashanti Regional Minister, Dr Frank Amoakohene, has disclosed that at least 23 people, including 11 children, have died after falling into abandoned illegal mining pits popularly known as galamsey pits in the region.
According to him, 19 bodies have so far been retrieved from the pits, with the remaining four still trapped underground.
Dr Amoakohene made the disclosure on Monday, August 24, 2026, during the commissioning of the new ultramodern office complex of the Minerals Commission in Kumasi.
He said most of the victims were residents who fell into uncovered mining pits while using routes leading to their farms.
“Twenty-three lives have been lost only because they were on their way to their farms and fell into pits that were left uncovered by miners within the various areas. Only 19 have been recovered from the pits; the remaining four we have not been able to recover,” he said.
Dr Amoakohene expressed particular concern over the deaths of children, noting that 11 of the victims were minors whose lives had been cut short by the abandoned pits.
“Eleven of them are children whose future has been cut short because someone, in his quest for money, left a pit uncovered within some of these areas that lead to farmlands,” he added.
The Regional Minister said the Regional Security Council, with support from the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, has begun reclaiming and covering abandoned illegal mining pits across affected communities.
He said the exercise is ongoing and called on stakeholders to support efforts to secure abandoned mining sites and prevent further loss of lives.
Dr Amoakohene stressed that urgent action is needed to address the dangers posed by abandoned mining pits, particularly in communities where residents frequently use routes leading to their farms.
Editor:
Obiri-Yeboah
