A 50-year-old woman has tragically lost her life after accidentally falling into an abandoned illegal mining (galamsey) pit at Mpasatia in the Atwima Mponua District of the Ashanti Region.
According to eyewitnesses, the incident occurred at around 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday, July 29, 2025, when the victim, identified only as Auntie Akos, was walking near the disused mining site.
The area, which has long been a safety hazard for residents, is riddled with uncovered pits left behind by illegal miners.
Residents who rushed to the scene reported that she was discovered unresponsive after falling into the deep, water-filled pit. Efforts to rescue her proved futile, and her body was later retrieved by local emergency personnel.
Community members have expressed frustration over the dangers posed by abandoned galamsey pits in the area.
She was quickly rescued and rushed to the Frimpong Boateng Clinic at Toase, but was unfortunately pronounced dead on arrival by medical personnel.
Her body has since been deposited at the Toase Mortuary for preservation and autopsy.
Local authorities have cautioned illegal miners to stay away from abandoned pits, citing the growing number of casualties linked to such dangerous sites.
In April 2025, four illegal miners within four months lost their lives at the Mpatasia abandoned galamsey pit.
On July 16 this year, four died, and twenty were trapped in a galamsey pit collapse at Akyem Wenchi in the Eastern Region.
According to sources, four young men have reportedly died, while about 20 others are still believed to be trapped underground.
The cause of the collapse remains unclear.
Illegal mining continues to claim the lives of many young men across various parts of the country, raising growing concern among the public. Many Ghanaians are questioning the current strategies being used to tackle the issue and are calling for more effective and committed efforts to put an end to the dangerous activities of galamsey operators.
