Three persons have been confirmed dead, and four others are still trapped underground in a tragic incident at a galamsey site when a pit they were digging for gold collapsed on them at Twifo Mampong on Thursday, September 25, 2025.
According to reports, four of the seven individuals involved in the illegal mining operation were working underground while three others operated a pumping machine at the surface.
The report indicated that a survivor rushed to raise the alarm after the collapse.
The District Chief Executive (DCE) for Twifo Atti-Morkwa, Isaac Yawson, revealed that preliminary findings suggested the pit belonged to a known illegal miner, and the young men had allegedly entered the pit at night without the owner’s consent.
The DCE had since ordered the immediate arrest of the pit owner as rescue efforts continue.
Meanwhile, residents of Winneba in the Central Region are grappling with an acute water shortage following the pollution of the Ayensu River by galamsey.
According to local authorities, recent tests on the river — which has long served as the main source of water for households and small businesses — revealed dangerously high levels of silt and chemicals believed to be used by illegal miners upstream, which has forced the Effutu Municipal Assembly to provide alternative water sources for residents.
The contamination has forced many residents to abandon the river and seek alternative water sources, including buying water from private suppliers or travelling long distances to fetch clean water.
Municipal authorities led by the Chief Executive (MCE) for Effutu, Atta Mensah, said urgent steps are being taken to mitigate the crisis.
He stated that they are in talks with the Ghana Water Company Limited and the Environmental Protection Agency to find urgent solutions, including treating the polluted water and cracking down on illegal mining sites, adding that ten boreholes will be drilled across selected areas to complement ongoing water deliveries by tanker services.
However, residents fear that relief may not come soon enough.
The situation in Winneba adds to growing concerns about the impact of galamsey on Ghana’s water bodies, as several rivers and streams across the country — including the Pra, Birim, and Ankobra — have suffered similar pollution in recent years.
