The growing danger posed by abandoned illegal mining sites in the Ashanti Region has claimed 23 lives, including 11 children, as uncovered galamsey pits continue to threaten residents in mining-affected communities.
Ashanti Regional Minister Dr Frank Amoakohene said 19 of the victims have so far been retrieved from the abandoned pits, while efforts are continuing to recover the remaining four bodies trapped underground.
He disclosed the figures on Monday, August 24, 2026, at the commissioning of the new ultramodern office complex of the Minerals Commission in Kumasi.
According to the Regional Minister, the victims were largely residents who fell into uncovered mining pits while using routes leading to their farms.
He said the deaths highlight the dangers communities face even after illegal mining activities have ceased, particularly where miners leave excavations unsecured.
“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 said.
Dr Amoakohene expressed particular concern about the number of children among the victims, saying 11 minors had lost their lives as a result of the abandoned pits.
He said the deaths represented a significant loss to families and communities, stressing that the situation required urgent action to prevent further casualties.
The Regional Minister attributed the danger to mining operators who, in their pursuit of profit, failed to properly secure or reclaim excavated areas after mining activities.
Authorities intensify reclamation efforts
In response to the situation, the Regional Security Council, with support from the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, has commenced an exercise to reclaim and cover abandoned illegal mining pits in affected communities.
Dr Amoakohene said the exercise is ongoing and is intended to make abandoned mining sites safer for residents, particularly those who depend on farm routes and other pathways passing through mining areas.
He urged stakeholders, including local authorities, traditional leaders and communities, to support the reclamation exercise and help identify dangerous abandoned pits.
The Regional Minister said protecting lives must remain a priority in efforts to address the impact of illegal mining, adding that securing abandoned excavations was necessary to prevent further deaths.
He called for continued collaboration among government agencies and communities to ensure that abandoned mining sites are properly reclaimed and do not remain death traps for residents.
The disclosure adds urgency to ongoing efforts to tackle the environmental and social consequences of illegal mining in the Ashanti Region, where abandoned excavations continue to pose risks long after mining operations have stopped.
