At least 22 people, including several school children, have drowned in abandoned and unconverted galamsey pits in the Central Region within the last seven months, the Central Regional Director of NADMO, Mr. Kwesi Dawood, has revealed.
Describing the situation as “alarming and heartbreaking”, Mr. Dawood noted that the actual number of deaths could be even higher due to underreporting in some communities.
The deadly pits, left uncovered by illegal mining operators, continue to pose serious risks to residents, particularly children.
Mr. Dawood made the disclosure in an exclusive interview with Tobinco Media Group’s Agyei Kwaku Mensah, during the launch of a large-scale land reclamation and tree-planting campaign aimed at restoring lands degraded by illegal mining (galamsey) and improving community safety.
The campaign covers key galamsey-affected areas across the Central Region, including:
- Assin North
- Assin Central
- Upper Denkyira East and West
- Twifo Ati-Morkwa
- Twifo Hemang Lower Denkyira
- Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abrem (KEEA)
The initiative forms part of the government’s Responsible Mining Initiative, and has seen the deployment of heavy-duty equipment to support land reclamation efforts. According to the Central Regional Minister, Hon. Ekow Panyin Okyere Eduamoah, the exercise is critical in reversing the environmental and human damage caused by galamsey activities.
Mr. Dawood called on small-scale miners and local communities to support the reclamation exercise, warning that failure to act would lead to more preventable deaths.
As part of the programme, free crop seedlings will be distributed to affected communities to be planted on reclaimed lands. This is expected to provide alternative livelihood options and reduce the economic dependence on illegal mining.
The campaign is a collaborative effort involving the Central Regional NADMO Secretariat, municipal and district assemblies, traditional authorities, and security services — reflecting a holistic approach to dealing with the dual challenges of environmental destruction and public safety.
Ghana|Atinkaonline.com|Agyei Kwaku Mensah