Residents in Dunkwa-Abesewa in the Upper Denkyira East Constituency of the Central Region are concerned about the continuous death incidents recorded in the area due to uncovered illegal mining pits.
Their concerns stem from the deaths of two students in the community as a result of an abandoned ‘galamsey’ concession that has remained unclaimed for the past four years.
The victims, Dominic Abu, 15, and Enoch Ogo, 16, who recently fell prey to the abandoned pit, are both final-year students of the Abisco M/A Basic School at Abesewa.
The incident, which occurred on Wednesday, March 27, 2024, around 4:30 p.m., has sparked widespread discussion among local residents who appear concerned about the situation.
A final-year student at St. Andrews Senior School is said to have suffered a similar fate about two years ago, when he attempted to use the shortcut route from Abesewa to Barrier, which was then flooded on his way home from school, but fell into one of the ‘galamsey’ pits and died.
In an interview with Abena Owusuwaa, mother of deceased Enoch Ogo, she revealed that the ‘galamsey’ site and its death records have instilled fear in parents at Abesewa, as three people, including her son, died in the pits.
Hon. Ernest Arkon, Assemblyman for Compound Electoral Area, bemoaned the series of deaths recorded at the ‘galamsey’ site and has given the Municipal Chief Executive and Member of Parliament for Upper Denkyira East a maximum of four months to see to the reclamation of the land, or else residents of the area will stage a massive demonstration against them.
Okofrobour Obeng Nuakohll, chief of Dunkwa, claimed in an interview that one Mr. Oppong, who is said to have relocated to Accra, is one of the miners whose mining activity in the area has degraded the land as such.
Source: Myrepubliconline