Two Junior High School final-year students of Abisco M/A Basic School have died after falling into an abandoned illegal mining (galamsey) pit at Dunkwa-Abasewa in the Upper Denkyira East District of the Central Region.
The incident happened on Monday, April 8, 2024.
Information gathered indicates that the deceased, Dominic Abu, 15, and Enoch Ogo, 16, were returning from school when the sad incident happened.
It is reported that one fell into the pit first, and in an attempt to rescue him, the other got into the pit covered with water and also drowned.
The bodies were subsequently retrieved.
The galamsey site, which has been left uncovered, has gotten residents worried over repeated deaths recorded in the area.
About two years ago, a final-year student of the St. Andrews Senior School was said to have fallen in the pit and died in his attempt to use the shortcut route from Abesewa to Barrier, which was then flooded on his way home from school.
An assembly member for Compound Electoral Area, Ernest Arkon, has bemoaned the series of deaths recorded at the galamsey site. He added that the Municipal Chief Executive and Member of Parliament for Upper Denkyira East have been given a maximum of four months to see to the reclamation of the land; otherwise, residents will hold a massive demonstration against them.
Galamsey pits-related deaths have become characteristic of recent happenings.
Below are some recent incidents.
Information gathered indicates that he and several other illegal miners entered the galamsey site to mine for gold. However, it is unclear how Bobi fell into the pit, which was full of water.
The victims were Kwasi Darkwa, 24, Kofi Asante, 30, and Yaw Ibrahim, 39.
Akpi Isaac was extremely weak after he was rescued from the pit and rushed to the hospital, but a doctor pronounced him dead.
The deceased, known as Akoshi, was from Accra but lived in Akyem Asene in the Asene Manso Akroso district.