- Reclamation Efforts Begin at Mpasatia Yaw Nkwanta Mining Site
- Four Miners Die in Separate Incidents, Prompting Action
- NADMO Works to Restore Land After Illegal Mining Tragedies
Reclamation efforts have commenced at the Mpasatia Yaw Nkwanta illegal mining site in the Atwima Mponua District of the Ashanti Region, following the tragic deaths of four miners in the past four months.
The latest incident, which occurred on April 1, claimed the lives of Kwame Charles and another miner known as Ben.
The alarming string of fatalities prompted the Regional National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) to direct its district office to urgently cover the open pit. During a site visit on April 10, NADMO teams were actively reclaiming the land with plans to restore the area for agricultural use.
Salifu Karim, Assembly Member for Mpasatia Ahenbronum, highlighted the community’s collective commitment to prevent further loss of life.
“We have all agreed to fill the pit so that no one else will go there and lose their life,” Karim stated.
Hajj Mohammed Nasir Ibrahim, the acting Regional Director of NADMO, confirmed that part of the site had already been covered. However, he emphasized the need for continued work to fully restore the area.
Ibrahim also noted that NADMO is working closely with local police to conduct patrols in the region to deter illegal mining activities.
The persistent fatalities associated with illegal mining, locally known as ‘galamsey,’ have raised serious concerns about the effectiveness of current measures to address the issue.
A 2021 analysis of mining-related accidents in Ghana revealed a disproportionate number of fatalities tied to small-scale mining, with 622 deaths recorded across 36 incidents.
The situation has spurred calls for more decisive and efficient actions to combat the hazardous practice and ensure the safety of lives.
