Three miners have died after a rock collapse at an underground mining site in Tarkwa, a community near Gbane in the Tongo District of Ghana’s Upper East Region, police have confirmed.

The fatal incident occurred late Monday night, February 16, 2026, at about 10:30 pm, when a slab of rock reportedly broke loose and fell on the victims while they were working underground.

According to a police situational report from the Gbane Post under the Bolgatanga Division, officers received a distress call from a resident, Masakya Maxwell of Datoko, alerting them to the accident.

Police officers dispatched to the scene found that some miners had already retrieved the bodies from the pit and placed them in sacks before the arrival of law enforcement personnel.

The owner of the mining pit, Tii Musah, identified the deceased as his workers: Subil Nmabil, aged about 30; Musah Zipati, aged about 40; and Onyin Udasaa, aged about 35.

A preliminary examination conducted by police revealed severe injuries consistent with a rockfall accident. Subil Nmabil sustained a deep cut on his left rib, and Musah Zipati suffered multiple head injuries, while Onyin Udasaa had a severely crushed right hand.

The bodies were subsequently transported to the Upper East Regional Hospital in Bolgatanga, where a medical officer on duty confirmed them dead. The remains have since been deposited at the hospital mortuary for preservation and autopsy.

The Gbane area and surrounding communities in the Talensi District have long been associated with intensive small-scale and artisanal mining activities, particularly gold extraction.

However, the sector has also been plagued by recurring safety concerns, including pit collapses, poor structural reinforcement, and limited regulatory oversight.

Mining-related fatalities remain a persistent challenge in several parts of northern Ghana, especially in informal or unregulated mining operations where safety protocols are often inadequate.

Police say investigations are ongoing to establish the exact circumstances that led to the collapse, including whether proper safety measures were in place at the time of the incident.

Authorities are expected to work with relevant regulatory bodies, including the Minerals Commission, to assess compliance with mining safety regulations and prevent future occurrences.