Three young men lost their lives in the early hours of Thursday when an illegal mining pit collapsed at Twifo Mampong in the Twifo Atti Morkwaa District of the Central Region.
Local officials confirmed that the victims were part of a group of five who allegedly sneaked into the site to mine around 1 a.m., according to the Twifo Praso District Police Command.
A fourth body was still being searched for at the time, while a fifth person operating a pumping machine escaped and raised the alarm.
Rescue efforts spanned several hours and were coordinated by the police with support from the District Chief Executive, Isaac Yawson, the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), and the Ghana National Fire Service. The combined teams worked tirelessly to retrieve the bodies and secure the dangerous site to prevent further casualties.
The tragedy underscores the persistent dangers of illegal mining, locally known as galamsey, which has claimed dozens of lives in Ghana in recent years despite repeated government crackdowns.
Authorities say they are intensifying monitoring in mining-prone areas as communities continue to grapple with the human cost of the illicit activity.