Reports by JoyNews' Erastus Asare Donkor have revealed a growing number of children drowning in illegal mining pits.

Erastus explained that prior to filing reports on illegal mining activities, he had researched the number of children who lost their lives through drowning in the pits. According to him, his findings revealed about 30 children.

However, his recent count in the wake of new accidents at illegal mining sites shows that the numbers have increased.

“Let me give you a simple count I did on the internet. When I was doing the 'Destruction for Gold', I wanted to have an idea of how many children have drowned in galamsey pits. So the reported issues online alone, I got 30 children who have drowned. Now those that I’ve covered, I can tell you I’ve lost count.

“So far, the ones that I can recall immediately alone, about 20 in the past year. But there are more than that,” he said.

His comments follow a recent report about the collapse of yet another illegal mining pit at Odumase in the Ashanti Region. The accident is said to have claimed the lives of two individuals, with one other injured.

Erastus says illegal mining has become rampant and dangerous to the extent that the incidents reported are just “a tip of the iceberg” at Odumase.

There are fears that parts of the town are sinking as a result of the environmentally threatening activity.

It is taking forever to solve the problem because “every family, institutions and every person is connected somehow to what is going on there,” said Erastus.

The effect of illegal mining is gradually taking a toll on the country. Although some culprits have been arrested in the past, others remain undeterred as reports have indicated that the owners of many of the sites are persons of influence connected to power.

Water bodies are now polluted, with the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) warning of shutting down its treatment plants should the situation persist. Others have also warned of water importation in the near future if solutions are not provided in time.

According to Erastus, the people of Odumase used to engage in more prudent sources of livelihood and that even when they were involved in mining, it was those that were regulated. But “now, all that they [The community] understands is mining.”

Speaking on the AM show on Monday, the Municipal Chief Executive for Asante Akyem Central, Robert Kwakye said his outfit will continue to engage people in mining communities on the effects of illegal mining.

The only thing the government can do is “we look for a portion of the concession for the community to do regularized mining, where they’ll teach safety measures so that those who are interested in doing this kind of work will go to the regularize and do the job" he said.