Seven illegal miners have been confirmed dead after a reclaimed mining site collapsed on them at Asaman Tamfoe in the Atiwa East District of Ghana’s Eastern Region.
The tragic mining site collapse occurred in the early hours of Sunday, August 30, 2026, when the miners allegedly entered the reclaimed area to engage in illegal mining, locally known as “Koli Koli.”
According to a survivor who was not inside the pit at the time of the incident, the victims were digging beneath a hillside section of the reclaimed mining site when the earth suddenly gave way.
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The collapse reportedly buried the miners under a heavy mass of soil and debris, leaving those inside the pit with little or no opportunity to escape.
Following the incident, residents and community volunteers mobilised to the scene as the police and other emergency agencies were alerted.
Rescuers worked for several hours to retrieve the victims from beneath the collapsed earth, using an excavator to remove the debris.
By Sunday, the remains of seven illegal miners had been recovered from the site.
Five of the deceased have reportedly been identified as residents of Moseaso, while the remaining two are believed to have come from the Asaman Tamfoe community.
Personnel from the Anyinam District Police Command, Ghana National Ambulance Service, National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) and community volunteers took part in the rescue operation.
The agencies are yet to formally brief the media on the circumstances surrounding the tragedy.
Meanwhile, the chief of Asaman Tamfoe has reportedly performed libation at the scene, stating that the miners had breached the community’s Akwasidae customary observance.
The incident has also renewed concerns over the return of illegal miners to reclaimed mining sites despite warnings from local authorities.
The District Chief Executive for Atiwa East, Ernest Owusu Ntim, said the youth had previously been warned by a task force established by the Assembly to ensure the protection of reclaimed areas and promote responsible mining.
He said the warnings were aimed at preventing people from returning to reclaimed lands to engage in illegal mining.
Mr Owusu Ntim described the incident as unfortunate and said he is awaiting the outcome of the police investigation into the deadly mining site collapse.
The latest tragedy adds to concerns over the dangers associated with illegal mining in Ghana, particularly when miners enter unstable or reclaimed areas in search of gold.
Authorities and community leaders have repeatedly called for greater compliance with mining regulations and the protection of reclaimed lands to prevent further loss of life.