Seven illegal miners commonly known as galamseyers have been killed in a mining pit collapse.
Reports detailed that the seven bodies have been recovered from a collapsed mining pit at Manso Kaneago in the Amansie South Municipality of the Ashanti Region,
According to the reports, eight illegal miners were trapped while searching for gold deposits.
The incident occurred on Thursday around 10 pm when the mining pit collapsed while the miners were working at the site.
National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) officials, together with the District Security Council (DISEC) and the Police, are making desperate efforts to retrieve the remaining body still trapped underground.
According to officers, about 12 miners were operating at the site when the incident occurred.
Officials disclosed that four of them managed to escape, while the remaining eight were trapped underground.
Reports revealed that Officials from NADMO, the Police and the District Security Council are expected to return to the site to continue the search and recovery operation for the remaining victim.
Meanwhile, the dead bodies have been deposited at the morgue.
In related galamsey news, Paa Kwesi Schandorf, the Spokesperson for the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, has cautioned against treating a state of emergency as a “magic wand” for tackling illegal mining (galamsey).
According to Paa Kwesi Schandorf, the declaration of a State of emergency on galamsey could impose restrictions on mining activities.
He argued that the declaration will not itself address the underlying causes of illegal mining, adding that it could halt mining activities and impose stringent restrictions.
Paa Kwesi Schandorf highlighted that the practical implications and potential benefits of declaring a state of emergency must first be clearly evaluated.
Speaking on Channel One TV’s The Point of View, Paa Kwesi Schandorf stated, “We should be careful not to consistently indicate or project a state of emergency as a certain magic wand, if once implemented, would automatically transform our fortunes”.
He further argued that some restrictions and security measures associated with the declaration of a State of emergency are already being implemented by NAIMOS.
“I’m not equating the state of emergency to NAIMOS intervention. I’m just saying that we should be careful not to consistently project that as that magic wand that will transform our fortunes,” he said.
Paa Kwesi Schandorf further stressed that President John Dramani Mahama has maintained that any decision to declare a state of emergency would be guided by security assessments.
The Lands Ministry spokesperson maintained that there is no immediate need for a state of emergency.
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