A devastating mining accident in Akyem Wenchi, located in the Denkyembour District of Ghana’s Eastern Region, has left at least four people dead and about 20 others missing after a suspected illegal mining (galamsey) pit caved in.
The incident, which occurred late Tuesday, has prompted an urgent multi-agency response. Personnel from the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), the Ghana Police Service, the Ghana National Fire Service, and the Ambulance Service have all been deployed to the scene.
Rescue operations are ongoing as teams, supported by local volunteers, work around the clock to locate and retrieve those trapped beneath the debris. However, efforts are being hampered by dangerous ground conditions, raising concerns about further collapses.
The exact cause of the cave-in is still unclear, and authorities have yet to release the identities of the deceased.
Emergency workers remain hopeful that some of the missing miners may still be alive, but time is running out as the unstable terrain continues to pose a serious risk to both rescuers and those still underground.
This latest disaster adds to growing concerns about the safety and regulation of illegal mining operations in Ghana, which continue to claim lives despite repeated crackdowns.
