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A tragic mining pit collapse at Kasotie in the Atwima Mponua District of the Ashanti Region has left at least five people dead and several others critically injured, reigniting urgent calls for decisive action against illegal mining in Ghana.
The deadly incident occurred on Wednesday, October 1, 2025, at about 4:30 p.m., when an abandoned mining pit caved in, trapping between 16 and 20 individuals engaged in illegal mining activities.
By Thursday morning, October 2, security and rescue teams, supported by locals, had recovered nine bodies from the rubble. Four others remain in critical condition and are receiving treatment. The Nkawie Divisional Police have conveyed the deceased to the Nyinahini Mortuary for identification and further directives.
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The Kasotie disaster highlights the perils of illegal mining, widely known as galamsey, which has plagued communities across Ghana for years. Abandoned pits, often left unsealed and unmonitored, pose severe risks to unsuspecting miners and nearby residents.
Community leaders and residents expressed deep concern about the recurring tragedies linked to unsafe mining practices. They stressed the need for urgent reclamation of abandoned sites to protect lives.
“This was preventable. How many more lives must we lose before abandoned pits are properly covered and monitored?” a resident lamented.
The collapse has intensified public agitation for stronger government action. Civil society groups and environmental activists are calling for a nationwide clampdown on illegal mining while urging stricter enforcement of existing regulations.
Local voices in Kasotie are demanding a comprehensive reclamation programme to restore degraded lands and avert future disasters. Many argue that beyond the environmental devastation, galamsey continues to fuel deaths and insecurity in mining communities.
Galamsey has long undermined Ghana’s socio-economic and environmental stability, polluting rivers, destroying farmlands, and leaving behind dangerous pits. Despite various government interventions, the menace persists, often linked to unemployment and weak enforcement mechanisms.
The Atwima Mponua collapse adds to a string of recent galamsey-related tragedies, underscoring the urgent need for a clear, consistent, and accountable national strategy to end the menace.
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