A devastating report from the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) reveals that over 22 people have lost their lives in abandoned illegal mining pits in the Central Region of Ghana within the past seven months. The victims include both illegal miners and innocent individuals, such as women and children, who had no involvement in mining activities.
The Regional Director of NADMO, Kwesi Dawood, described the situation as “alarming” and “heartbreaking,” warning that the actual figures could be higher due to underreporting. In response, a task force has been launched to reclaim illegal mining sites across the region. The task force, comprising security agencies, NADMO, and other stakeholders, aims to address the environmental destruction and safety hazards caused by illegal mining.
The initiative also forms part of the government’s broader plan to convert degraded galamsey sites into productive agricultural land and tree plantations. The Regional Minister, Ekow Payin Okyere Eduamoah, has spearheaded a project to restore farmlands, provide alternative livelihoods, and implement a “Tree for Life” reforestation policy.
As the government seeks to reclaim degraded sites, officials are urging illegal miners to abandon their harmful activities and join the reclamation drive. With heavy machinery deployed and free crop seedlings to be distributed, the initiative aims to restore natural habitats, secure livelihoods, and promote ecological balance.
