FOUR WOMEN have been declared dead while two others are in the hospital battling for their lives, after a deep mining pit in which they were digging for gold suddenly caved in on them.
The heartbreaking incident happened around 9am on Saturday, March 2, 2024, at Manso Kumpese in the Amansie South District of Ashanti Region, and it has sparked a melancholic atmosphere in the area.
The deceased have been identified as Maame Yaa, 18; Yaa Boakye Priscilla, 21; Alhassan Atenee, 42, and Afia Pokuah, 25. Their bodies have since been deposited at the St. Martin’s Catholic Hospital morgue, Manso Agroyesum.
The other two illegal miners who luckily escaped death by a whisker but sustained injuries are Felicia Azumah and Nadia Apau. They are in critical condition and receiving treatment in the same hospital.
A police report, sighted by the DAILY GUIDE, said the women usually visited Manso Kumpese, which is about 300 meters off the Mines Barrier on the Kumpese-Abiram road, to mine for gold in a pit under a cliff.
Unfortunately, according to police preliminary investigations, things didn’t go as planned as the deep pit suddenly caved in, trapping the six miners, who are indigenes of Manso Kumpese.
“Preliminary investigation indicates that the victims are among the indigenes of Manso Kumpese who normally go to the mining site to prospect for gold,” part of the police report disclosed.
“That about 9:00am whilst their usual galamsey activities were ongoing at the site, the cliff under which a couple of galamsey pits were located slid, collapsing the pits in the process whilst the aforementioned six female victims were prospecting for gold in it.
“That the six female victims were rescued and rushed to St. Martin’s Catholic Hospital, Manso Agroyesum, where four of them were pronounced dead before arrival, whilst the two others are currently on admission receiving treatment.”
The report further said, “Individual inspections on the bodies disclosed various degree of injuries all over the bodies, including fractures on the limbs, suggesting foul play,” adding that investigations are ongoing.
FROM I.F. Joe Awuah Jnr., Kumasi