A 13-year-old girl, Tesnim Iddrisu, has died after drowning in an abandoned galamsey pit at Juaboso in the Western North Region.

The tragedy occurred when the teenager went to fetch firewood and accidentally slipped into the water-filled pit. She could not be rescued in time.

The incident has once again highlighted the dangers posed by abandoned illegal mining sites that remain uncovered across farming communities. Many of these pits, filled with rainwater, have become death traps for children, farmers, and residents.

Locals reported that several lives have already been lost in similar incidents in the Juaboso District, warning that without urgent intervention, more deaths could follow.

“We are tired of burying our children and loved ones. The government and the District Assembly must act now to reclaim these lands and stop illegal mining once and for all,” one resident lamented.

Community members are appealing to the government, the District Assembly, and security agencies to intensify efforts to curb galamsey activities and ensure proper reclamation of mined lands to prevent further loss of lives.

The latest incident has deepened fears that the menace of illegal mining, if left unchecked, will continue to devastate lives and communities in the area.