Seventeen people have died after falling into abandoned galamsey pits in the Amansie West District of the Ashanti Region.

Twelve of the deaths occurred in the last quarter of last year alone, whilst five have been recorded in this year as many cases go unreported.

The tragedy is at the height of destruction caused by illegal mining, prompting the District Assembly to initiate action to reclaim the degraded land.

Chief Executive, Alex Kwame Bonsu, says the district, considered home of illegal mining has suffered wanton destruction caused by galamsey operators.

The Amansie West District has the highest number of illegal miners in the Ashanti Region.
Despite widespread evidence of polluted water bodies, farmland and forest being turned into desert, galamsey is still regarded a lucrative venture for majority of unemployed youth in the area.

Illegal miners run for dear lives on sight of members of the anti-galamsey taskforce, leaving equipment behind.
Manso Adubia recorded the highest number of casualties with 3 victims followed by Afranso, Tontokrom and Kwahu each with two casualties respectively.

They are followed on the list by Manso Nkwanta, Keniago and Odaho each recording a victim each with majority of victims aged between 24 and 26.
Not even attempts by the Ashanti Regional Anti-Galamsey Taskforce to clamp down on such activities could scare operators.

Personnel from the military, police, immigration, Minerals Commission and the Environmental Protection Agency have been active in the area to arrest illegal miners and seize equipment.

About twenty excavators, hundreds  of pumping machines, generators and special machines called ‘champhi’ designed and produced by Chinese miners have been seized by the taskforce.

Deputy Commander in-charge of Operations at the Ashanti Regional Police Command, ASP Emmanuel Asiamah, is overwhelmed by the destruction caused by galamsey activities.

"We arrested hundreds of illegal Chinese miners and we lawfully handed them over to the Immigration Service for further directives. We have impounded excavators in all the areas that the illegal galamsey is being carried out. I think we will make headway because we can’t continue to allow destruction of our natural resources”. He explained.

Many hectares of land remain desolate as water bodies from which people drink remain heavily polluted.
Abandoned deep pits have become death traps, especially, to farmers as galamsey operators continue to eat into concessions of small scale mining companies in legitimate business.
Youth in area appear unperturbed by the presence of the heavily armed taskforce whose members go all out to arrest them.
One of the miners is a 26-year old Daniel Nkum who has travelled all the way from Asawinso in the Western region to engage in galamsey business.

Daniel who aspires to be military officer says “I’m here to get money to buy military forms to enable me get enlisted”.
Many innocent souls continue to fall into abandoned mined pits, resulting in death.
Twelve cases were recorded in the last half of last year alone, bringing scary moments to residents.

District Chief Executive, Alex Kwame Bonsu, tells Nhyira Fm the situation calls for immediate attention as he appeals for central government support.

“I don’t think we alone can handle it because Amansie West is the biggest district now in the country and almost everywhere you go; you see that people are engaged in galamsey activities. There are a lot of pits people are fallen in day-in-day out. Most of the cocoa farms are being taken over by galamsey,” Mr. Bonsu lamented.