A Nigerian galamseyer (illegal miner) named only as Christian, died in a galamsey pit last Sunday night at Ntotroso, a mining community in the Asutifi South District of the Brong-Ahafo Region. His body has been deposited at the Hwidiem St Theresa’s Hospital.
Three others are also feared dead though this has not been confirmed by the authorities, DAILY GUIDE has gathered.
According to information, Christian and others were doing illegal mining (galamsay) at a hamlet in one of the Ntotroso communities deep in the night when the pit in which they were looking for the precious mineral caved in and killed him (Christian).
DAILY GUIDE sources said three or four miners were suspected to be in the pit when it caved in, but one was able to escape whilst the whereabouts of the others were not known. It said after bringing their dead colleague out, they dumped him by the pit and ran away.
The Omanhene of Ntotroso Traditional Area, Barimah Ampem II, confirmed the death.
He said because the traditional council had been fighting the illegal gold mining activities, the operators now go in the night to look for the mineral.
He lamented the activities of the illegal gold diggers which he noted had been destroying the vegetation and asked for the intervention of “Operation Vanguard,” saying his outfight, in collaboration with the police, had been fighting them but don’t have the capacity to stop them entirely by closing the pits.
The traditional ruler said most of the people engaged in the galamsey are foreigners and some Ghanaians but denied the involvement of the residents.
Danielyaodayee.com
FROM Daniel Y Dayee, Ntotroso