In the Eastern Region, three children, aged nine to fourteen, have tragically drowned in mining pits over the past two weeks, leaving their families heartbroken.
The incidents underscore the continuing risks of reckless mining activities, which are not only ruining farmland, harming ecosystems, and threatening livelihoods, but also taking innocent lives.
Kwabena Adjei and his wife are devastated after losing two of their children, who drowned in a mining pit while trying to swim at Abompe in the Fanteakwa South District over the weekend.
The father of the victims, who had just returned from the farm, was greeted with the heartbreaking news. He shared, “It’s tough for my wife and me. Losing two children so suddenly is devastating. I came home to hear that my kids had drowned. I saw one of their lifeless bodies while efforts were underway to recover the other.”
Local rivers, streams, and access to clean, potable water for surrounding communities have also been severely affected. Our investigation revealed that one of the mining pits had been intentionally left to fill with rainwater, reportedly for use during the dry season. A local resident explained, “We’ve been facing water challenges, so this particular pit was left to collect rainwater for our activities, especially since we are in the rainy season.”
In response to the tragic events, Eastern Regional Minister Rita Adjei Awatey visited the grieving parents in Abompe to offer her condolences.
She condemned the damage caused by unregulated mining, asserting, “It is unacceptable for mining activities to destroy community lands and endanger children’s lives.”
The Minister has instructed the police to investigate the incident and take appropriate action against the responsible miner.”We are coming after you, even if you have a license. Have you covered the pit? I urge the police to investigate and determine who worked here. They must explain why they left the pit open after mining,” she said.
She also revealed plans to meet with both large and small-scale miners, stating, “My visit to these communities is for fact-finding. After this, the task force will begin making arrests. This is unacceptable. Where are our security personnel? Where are our local leaders? I visited Akwatia to witness the situation, and what has happened here is equally concerning. We cannot allow this to continue,” she expressed.
The Eastern Regional Security Council has already established a task force to tackle the growing issue of irresponsible mining activities in the region.
Sustainable Development Goal five calls on the government to manage forests sustainably by 2030, halt and reverse land and natural habitat degradation, combat desertification, and stop biodiversity loss.
Since taking office on January 7, 2025, the Mahama-led administration has made statements addressing these issues. Civil Society Organizations are now expecting clearer directives and stronger actions from the government.
