More than 22 people have drowned in abandoned illegal mining pits in the Central Region over the past seven months, according to Kwesi Dawood, Regional Director of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO).
He said the deserted pits had claimed the lives of both illegal miners, commonly called galamseyers, and innocent individuals, particularly women and children with no connection to mining activities.
Describing the situation as both "alarming" and "heart-breaking," Dawood warned that the actual figures could be higher due to underreporting.
He made the disclosure at a media briefing after a Regional Security Council meeting, which also launched a task force to reclaim illegal mining sites across all mining districts in the region.
