The Western Central Regional Police Command has initiated investigations into an explosion that occurred at a tailings site in Aboso in the Western Region on Tuesday, August 4, 2026.  

The incident resulted in the death of three persons.  Three others were injured.  

This was disclosed in a statement signed by Assistant Superintendent of Police Beatrice Turkson, the Head of Public Affairs Unit, Western Central Region and copied to the Ghana News Agency.  

Preliminary investigations revealed that at about 1200 hours on the day of the incident, workers of the site spotted a python and informed the owner, David Kofi Fletcher, now deceased, who reportedly arrived at the site armed with a pump-action shotgun to kill the reptile.  

The statement said it suspected that after the deceased fired a shot, the pellets struck explosive materials believed to have been illegally stored at the premises, triggering the explosion. 

The explosion claimed the life of the site owner; David Kofi Fletcher and two other persons identified only as Solomon and Baba.  

According to the statement, three persons sustained various degrees of injury and were rushed to hospital, where they are receiving treatment.  

It added that the bodies of the deceased have been deposited at the Tarkwa Municipal Hospital mortuary for preservation and autopsy. 

The explosion also caused extensive damage to nearby properties, several houses within the vicinity had their window panels shattered, while six vehicles parked at a nearby washing bay had their windscreens and windows damaged.  

The Minerals Commission has been notified and is collaborating with the police as investigations continued to establish the full circumstances surrounding the incident, the statement said.  

The Western Central Regional Police Command has expressed its deepest condolences to the bereaved families and wished those injured speedy recovery.  

The Command further reminded the public that the unlawful possession, storage, handling, or sale of explosives constitutes a serious offence and posed significant risk to public safety.  

It therefore urged the public to report any suspected illegal storage or handling of explosives to the nearest police station.