23 lives lost to abandoned illegal mining pits in Ashanti Region – Regional Minister
At least 23 lives have been lost to abandoned illegal mining pits in the Ashanti Region, with a significant number of them being minors.
In the Ashanti Region, at least 23 lives have been tragically claimed by abandoned illegal mining pits, with a significant portion of the victims being minors. Out of the 19 bodies that have been recovered, the remaining four remain trapped within the pits. This grim revelation was shared by the Ashanti Regional Minister, Dr Frank Amoakohene, during the inauguration of the new ultramodern office complex for the Minerals Commission in Kumasi.
Dr Amoakohene recounted that 11 of the deceased were children who fell victim to the hazards of illegal mining. He emphasized that many of the victims were innocent residents who were on their way to access their farms but met their untimely demise. "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," he stated.
The Regional Minister further highlighted that the Regional Security Council, in collaboration with the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, has initiated reclamation efforts to cover all abandoned illegal mining pits across several communities. "We have started reclamation efforts to cover these abandoned pits. The work is truly ongoing and we want to thank the Minister for that," Dr Amoakohene noted, calling on stakeholders to support the initiative.
Moreover, Dr Amoakohene revealed that the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, along with the security services and the Forestry Commission, has been successful in removing all permanent structures established within the region's forest reserves. He added that filling stations located deep within forest reserves have also been rendered non-operational to prevent fuel supply to illegal miners.
The government, in partnership with the UK government, has also erected permanent camps and structures along rivers in the region to be occupied by forest guards. These guards are tasked with safeguarding the forests and water bodies.
Written by urgent.news from MyJoyOnline Ghana's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
