23 people, including 11 children, killed by abandoned mining pits in Ashanti Region
At least 23 people, including 11 children, have died after falling into abandoned illegal mining pits in Ghana's Ashanti Region. Local authorities have launched a reclamation project to cover the pits and are removing illegal structures from forest reserves.
Why it matters
The tragedy underscores the severe human and environmental costs of unregulated illegal mining, prompting a government crackdown on hazardous land use.
At least 23 people have died after falling into abandoned illegal mining pits across the Ashanti Region, with children accounting for nearly half of the victims.
Ashanti Regional Minister, Dr Frank Amoakohene, disclosed that although 19 bodies have so far been retrieved, four others remain trapped inside the abandoned pits.
He made the disclosure during the commissioning of a new ultramodern office complex for the Minerals Commission in Kumasi.
According to Dr Amoakohene, 11 of those who lost their lives were children. He said most of the victims were residents who were on their way to their farms when they accidentally fell into uncovered pits left behind by illegal miners.
The Regional Minister described the situation as tragic, saying the deaths could have been avoided if mining pits had been properly covered after mining activities.
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