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.
He said the loss of the children was particularly devastating because their lives and future had been cut short as a result of abandoned mining sites.
In response to the growing danger, Dr Amoakohene said the Regional Security Council, in collaboration with the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, had commenced the reclamation of abandoned illegal mining pits across affected communities.
He appealed to stakeholders to support the ongoing reclamation exercise to prevent further deaths and protect residents, particularly those who depend on farmland for their livelihoods.
The Regional Minister also disclosed that significant measures had been taken to remove permanent structures from forest reserves in the region as part of efforts to combat illegal mining.
He said security agencies, working with the Forestry Commission and the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, had removed permanent structures that were supporting illegal mining activities.
According to him, filling stations that had been established within forest reserves to supply fuel to illegal miners had also been rendered non-operational.
Dr Amoakohene said the region no longer had filling stations or other permanent structures operating within its forest reserves.
He further revealed that the government, with support from the United Kingdom, had constructed permanent camps and other facilities along rivers in the region for forest guards.
The facilities, he said, would enable the guards to maintain a stronger presence and protect the region’s forests and water bodies from illegal activities.
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