The Ashanti Regional Directorate of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) has raised alarm over the increasing number of deaths linked to abandoned illegal mining (galamsey) pits, describing the situation as a major humanitarian concern.
In a statement issued on Friday, July 17, Regional Director Alhaji Nasir Mohammed Ibrahim disclosed that 23 people — made up of 12 adults and 11 children — lost their lives between January and June 2026 after drowning in abandoned galamsey pits across 19 districts in the region.
According to him, NADMO recovered 19 bodies during the six-month period, while four victims are still missing.
Alhaji Ibrahim noted that illegal mining activities continue in 23 districts in the Ashanti Region, leaving behind uncovered pits that become death traps, particularly during the rainy season.
He called on illegal miners, Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs), and other stakeholders to collaborate with NADMO to establish and equip rescue teams capable of responding quickly to drowning incidents.
“The miners and assemblies must necessarily support NADMO to train and equip divers and rescue swimmers to curtail these fatalities in the second half of 2026 and beyond,” he appealed.
Clean-up exercise reducing health risks
The Regional Director also highlighted the benefits of the ongoing drainage desilting and sanitation campaign across the region, saying the exercise is helping to reduce the risk of flooding-related diseases.
He explained that floodwaters often carry faecal matter, refuse and other contaminants into homes, kitchens and businesses, increasing the spread of diseases such as cholera, typhoid and malaria while exposing affected families to emotional and economic hardship.
According to him, the sustained clean-up exercise has improved stormwater flow, reduced flooding and promoted cleaner communities.
Alhaji Ibrahim added that the campaign has also heightened public awareness on proper sanitation and responsible waste disposal, encouraging residents to avoid indiscriminate dumping of refuse into drains and to report offenders.
Call for support
He further disclosed that NADMO headquarters, in collaboration with several non-governmental and faith-based organisations, is supporting disaster victims across parts of the country through coordinated relief efforts.
Among the organisations currently assisting flood victims in Accra are The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the Qatar Foundation, and Stanbic Bank Ghana.
Alhaji Ibrahim appealed to corporate institutions, development partners, faith-based organisations and philanthropists to extend similar support to the Ashanti Region to strengthen disaster preparedness, emergency response and recovery efforts.
He stressed that stronger collaboration between government agencies, local authorities, the private sector and communities is essential to reducing disaster risks and safeguarding lives and property across the region.
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