A 24-year-old man has drowned in an abandoned illegal mining pit at Brofoyedu, close to the Bosome Freho District capital of Asiwa in the Ashanti Region.
The lifeless body of Kofi Buabeng was pulled out of the pit after opinion leaders authorized a rescue mission on Thursday (10 November 2022).
The deceased is said to have gone swimming at the mining site but could not be traced.
Assemblyman for the area Lot Adu Asabere said, “We have removed the body and deposited it at the morgue. Now we have reported the matter to the District Police Command. We got the information on Wednesday that he had gone there to swim, but unfortunately, he drowned. His body was found the following day after a rescue mission.”
He adds that the owner of the mining concession who has been invited for questioning will be ordered to reclaim the land to avert such avoidable deaths.
“Now the police have started investigations. The owner of the concession has also been invited by the police. We have given him one week to reclaim the land”, the Assemblyman stated.
Illegal mining is rife in the Bosome Freho District. Although the government has rolled out several interventions to address the menace, it appears the effort is not paying off as sources say powerful hands are said to be involved.
In September President Akufo-Addo disclosed that the District Chief Executive for the area Yaw Danso was being investigated for his involvement in illegal mining. He has since denied the allegations.
SOURCE: DAILY MAIL GH