Four illegal miners, commonly referred to as galamseyers, have tragically lost their lives following the collapse of a mining pit at Skuumu, a community near Gyaman-Nkwanta in the Amansie Central District of the Ashanti Region.

The unfortunate incident occurred on Wednesday, May 27, 2026, at about 4:00 p.m., sending shockwaves through the local community. Eyewitness accounts indicate that the miners were actively working in the pit when the ground suddenly gave way, trapping them beneath tonnes of earth and debris.

The sudden collapse left residents and fellow miners in a state of panic as attempts were made to alert emergency and security personnel.

The incident has once again drawn attention to the persistent dangers associated with illegal mining activities in parts of the Ashanti Region, where unregulated operations continue to pose serious safety and environmental risks.

Community members expressed deep concern over the frequency of such accidents, calling for stricter enforcement of mining regulations to prevent further loss of lives.

Following the report of the collapse, personnel from the Ghana Police Service, along with other supporting security agencies, were swiftly dispatched to the scene. Their arrival marked the beginning of coordinated rescue and recovery efforts aimed at retrieving any trapped individuals and securing the area to prevent further incidents.

After hours of operation, all four bodies were successfully recovered from the rubble of the collapsed pit. The remains have since been transported and deposited at the Jacobu Government Hospital morgue, where they are being preserved pending identification and further investigations.

Preliminary information gathered from the scene suggests that the group was led by a man identified as Solomon Amadevor. However, the identities of the remaining three deceased individuals have not yet been officially confirmed.

Authorities indicate that investigations are ongoing to establish the full identities of the victims as well as the exact circumstances that led to the collapse.

Security agencies are also expected to intensify surveillance and enforcement in the area as part of broader efforts to clamp down on illegal mining activities and prevent similar tragedies in the future.