{
  "id": 3096157,
  "title": "23 lives lost to abandoned illegal mining pits in Ashanti Region – Regional Minister",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/24/23-lives-lost-to-abandoned-illegal-mining-pits-in-ashanti-region",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-24T19:34:34.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "MyJoyOnline Ghana",
    "slug": "myjoyonline-ghana",
    "url": "https://www.myjoyonline.com/23-lives-lost-to-abandoned-illegal-mining-pits-in-ashanti-region-regional-minister/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "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.\n\nDr 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.\n\nThe 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.\n\nMoreover, 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.\n\nThe 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.",
  "summary": "At least 23 lives have been lost to abandoned illegal mining pits in the Ashanti Region, with a significant number of them being minors.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Starr FM",
        "title": "4,200 migrant beggars and illegal immigrants removed from Ghana since 2025 – Interior Minister",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/24/4-200-migrant-beggars-and-illegal-immigrants-removed-from-ghana-since",
        "published": "2026-08-24T18:35:41.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Adom Online",
        "title": "23 people, including 11 children, killed by abandoned mining pits in Ashanti Region",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/24/23-people-including-11-children-killed-by-abandoned-mining-pits-in",
        "published": "2026-08-24T20:41:14.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}