At least five people have been confirmed dead after an illegal mining pit collapsed in the Kasotie area of the Atwima Mponua District in the Ashanti Region.
The incident occurred late Wednesday, October 1, 2025, when a group of miners, locally referred to as galamseyers, were trapped underground.
Emergency teams, led by the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) with support from local volunteers, managed to rescue eight miners alive after hours of intensive efforts.
District Chief Executive (DCE) for Atwima Mponua, Ibrahim Ishak, confirmed the fatalities and described the situation as a grim reminder of the dangers of illegal mining.
“The preliminary information we have is that this was an illegal mining operation. Our rescue teams, including NADMO, worked tirelessly. While we are grateful that eight individuals were brought out safely, it is a profound tragedy that five lives have been lost,” he told Kumasi Mail.
The rescued miners were rushed to the Nyinahini Government Hospital for medical attention. While their conditions have not been officially disclosed, they are reported to have suffered non-life-threatening injuries.
The tragedy has sparked renewed concern within the community and beyond, drawing attention to the persistent risks associated with illegal small-scale mining, which continues to claim lives and damage the environment across Ghana.
Rescue teams remain at the scene to ensure no one is left trapped, while investigations into the cause of the collapse are underway.
Source :www.kumasimail.com
