Seven illegal miners are reportedly feared dead after a galamsey pit collapsed overnight at Asaman Tamfoe near Anyinam in the Eastern Region.
Reports suggest the victims were allegedly engaged in illegal mining when the pit caved in, trapping them underground.
According to reports, rescue efforts are currently underway as people at the site work to retrieve those trapped in the collapsed pit.
In the video shared by media personality Johnnie Hughes showed an excavator and several people are seen trying to rescue one of the victims who was trapped under thick sand.
In a post shared by media personality Johnnie Hughes on X, he wrote, “7 alleged illegal miners are feared dead after a galamsey pit collapsed overnight at Asaman Tamfoe, near Anyinam in the E/R.
Reports say the 7 were working overnight when the pit caved in, trapping them underground.
Rescue efforts are underway. #StopGalamseyNow”
In related news, Dr Frank Amoakohene, the Ashanti Regional Minister, has revealed that at least 23 people, including 11 children, have died after falling into abandoned illegal mining (galamsey) pits.
According to Dr Frank Amoakohene, 19 bodies have so far been retrieved from the abandoned galamsey pits, with four still trapped underground.
He disclosed that most of the victims were residents who fell into uncovered mining pits while using routes leading to their farms.
Dr Frank Amoakohene expressed concern over the deaths of children, saying 11 of the victims were minors whose lives had been cut short.
Speaking on Monday, August 24, 2026, during the commissioning of the new ultramodern office complex of the Minerals Commission in Kumasi, the Ashanti Region Minister stated, “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”.
“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 led to farmlands,” he added.
Also, the Regional Minister disclosed that with support from the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, the region has begun reclaiming and covering abandoned illegal mining pits across affected communities.
Meanwhile, President John Dramani Mahama has said his government will not give up in the fight against illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey.
Mahama argued that Ghana is making progress in the fight against illegal mining.
According to John Mahama, the government will intensify efforts to reclaim forest reserves and other environmentally sensitive areas affected by illegal mining activities.
He highlighted that the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) has played a key role in the ongoing efforts.
Watch the video below:
7 alleged illegal miners are feared dead after a galamsey pit collapsed overnight at Asaman Tamfoe, near Anyinam in the E/R.
— Johnnie Hughes, TBG (@hughes_onair) August 30, 2026
Reports say, the 7 were working overnight when the pit caved in, trapping them underground.
Rescue efforts are underway. #StopGalamseyNow pic.twitter.com/XPy2sli9xK
@ghnow_ Ralph proudly describes himself as a “fine junky.” #GHNow #fyp ♬ original sound – Basem khaled متخصص بشره
@ghnow_ Ralph laments the poor state of Terminal 2, saying the facility has been left to deteriorate. #GHNow #fyp ♬ original sound – GHnow
