The National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) has sensitised small-scale miners at Kwaokrom in the Juaboso district of the Western North region on the dangers of uncovered and abandoned mining pits.
The exercise forms part of efforts to minimise cases of residents falling into dugout pits left behind after mining activities, which have become a growing safety concern in many communities.
Speaking during the engagement, the Western North Regional Director of NADMO, Esther Oppong, warned that such pits pose a serious threat to lives, particularly during the rainy season when they are often filled with water and become difficult to detect.
She urged miners to take responsibility by reclaiming mined out lands and properly covering pits after their operations to prevent accidents.
Available data and reports indicate that deaths linked to illegal mining pits remain a major concern in Ghana.
In the Central Region alone, at least 22 people reportedly died within seven months after falling into or being trapped in galamsey pits, while several other incidents across the country continue to claim lives.
studies show accidents in illegal mining including pit collapses and drowning account for the vast majority of mining-related deaths in Ghana, with dozens of fatalities recorded in recent years.
Esther Oppong also indicated that NADMO will intensify its education campaigns across mining communities and work with local authorities to ensure compliance.
Some of the miners who participated in the sensitisation exercise admitted that they had underestimated the dangers posed by abandoned pits and pledged to adopt safer practices.
They assured NADMO of their commitment to covering pits after mining to protect lives and reduce risks within their communities.
The sensitisation programme is expected to be extended to other mining areas in the region as authorities step up efforts to address mining-related hazards in the Western North region.
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