Galamsey Pits Central Region has become a deadly crisis, with at least 22 lives lost in just seven months due to drowning in abandoned mining pits. According to the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), these tragic incidents expose the dangers of illegal mining and highlight the urgent need for reclamation and safety measures.
The fatalities in the Galamsey Pits Central Region occurred in districts such as Assin North, Assin Central, Upper Denkyira East, Upper Denkyira West, Twifo Atti-Morkwa, Twifo Hemang Lower Denkyira, and Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abrem. Victims included school children, women, and innocent community members who accidentally slipped into the uncovered pits filled with stagnant, muddy water.
NADMO Regional Director, Kwesi Dawood, described the situation as both “heartbreaking and preventable.” He added that the official count may be lower than reality: “The true toll of deaths in the Galamsey Pits Central Region is likely higher, because not all incidents are reported.”
Alarming Death Toll in Galamsey Pits Central Region
The Galamsey Pits Central Region disaster is more than numbers — it is about families broken and communities traumatized. Parents mourn children who drowned while playing. Farmers grieve loved ones who never returned from their fields. In several towns, residents avoid vast stretches of land because they are scarred with pits that have become death traps.
Witnesses describe how everyday activities such as fetching water, farming, or walking on footpaths suddenly turned fatal when victims fell into hidden pits. These tragedies underline how abandoned pits left by galamsey operators remain a constant danger.
NADMO’s Reclamation Taskforce
To fight the growing menace, NADMO has launched a reclamation taskforce specifically for the Galamsey Pits Central Region. The initiative brings together:
- District assemblies
- The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
- The Minerals Commission
- Security services
- Local miners and media partners
This taskforce is reclaiming abandoned pits with heavy machinery while strengthening safety awareness among communities. The goal is to save lives, restore degraded lands, and create sustainable opportunities for residents.
“Tree for Life” Policy
The government’s “Tree for Life” policy is another major intervention targeting the Galamsey Pits Central Region. Free seedlings of cocoa, palm, and rubber are distributed to communities to plant on reclaimed sites. This policy provides two solutions:
- Environmental restoration — healing scarred land and preventing erosion.
- Livelihood creation — offering farmers sustainable alternatives to illegal mining.
As NADMO officials explained, “Reclaiming galamsey pits is not just about covering holes. It is about returning the land to communities in a way that supports their survival.”
Environmental Consequences
The Galamsey Pits Central Region problem extends far beyond fatalities. Abandoned pits worsen flooding, soil erosion, and water contamination. During heavy rains, waterlogged pits overflow and contaminate rivers like the Pra and Offin, destroying aquatic life and harming downstream farming.
Polluted water from the pits raises the cost of clean drinking water and exposes residents to diseases. In addition, once-fertile farmland in the Central Region has been rendered infertile due to erosion and heavy metal pollution.
Experts from the Environmental Protection Agency warn that unless galamsey is curbed, the Central Region risks losing significant agricultural potential.
Human Stories of Loss
The crisis in the Galamsey Pits Central Region is deeply personal.
- In Upper Denkyira West, a mother lost her 10-year-old son when he drowned while playing near an abandoned pit.
- In Assin North, a young farmer lost his wife while she attempted to cross farmland scarred by pits.
These tragedies illustrate that galamsey pits are not distant problems — they destroy families and futures.
Political and Social Pressure
The rising death toll from the Galamsey Pits Central Region has intensified pressure on government institutions. Civil society organizations demand stricter enforcement of mining laws and prosecution of those who fail to reclaim mining sites.
At the same time, unemployment and poverty continue to drive many youths into illegal mining. For them, galamsey offers short-term relief despite the dangers. This creates a cycle of dependency that complicates enforcement.
Analysts argue that solving the Galamsey Pits Central Region crisis requires not only law enforcement but also sustainable alternatives for young people.
The Way Forward
The future of the Galamsey Pits Central Region will depend on how effectively NADMO’s reclamation program and the Tree for Life initiative are implemented. Experts warn that without consistent funding, supervision, and community involvement, progress could be lost.
The Minerals Commission and security services are being urged to prevent new pits from being created even as old ones are reclaimed. Only a combination of law enforcement, community participation, and economic alternatives can break the cycle.
Conclusion
The Galamsey Pits Central Region tragedy — with 22 deaths in seven months — is a stark reminder that illegal mining without reclamation has deadly consequences. NADMO’s reclamation taskforce and the Tree for Life initiative are crucial first steps, but lasting success will require political will, strict law enforcement, and strong community ownership.
Ghana must act quickly to ensure that no more lives are lost in the Galamsey Pits Central Region and that degraded lands are transformed into safe, productive spaces for future generations.
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