Two young men, identified as Donkor Junior, aged 20, and Enoch Agyapong, aged 19, have drowned in an abandoned illegal mining (galamsey) pit at Subri Nkwanta in the Bibiani Anhwiaso-Bekwai Municipality of the Western North Region.
According to reports, the two victims went to a galamsey site in the area in an attempt to earn some income by washing leftover black soil, locally referred to as “kolikoli,” which had been discarded by illegal miners.
Tragically, they reportedly fell into a water-filled pit at the site and drowned. Their bodies were later retrieved by residents, triggering grief and shock within the community.
Kofi Ahenwa, the father of one of the deceased, narrated how he received the distressing news, describing it as a devastating blow to the family. He lamented the dangerous conditions created by abandoned galamsey pits and called on authorities to take urgent action to prevent further loss of lives.
The incident has once again highlighted the deadly risks associated with illegal mining activities, particularly abandoned pits that are left uncovered and unmonitored. Residents have appealed to municipal authorities and security agencies to clamp down on galamsey operations and ensure that such hazardous sites are properly reclaimed to avert future tragedies.
Story: Nyamebeye Kofi Ansah Sasraku