Fiifi Boafo raises alarm as part of Tarkwa Women's Market caves in

A former Office Manager of the Chief Executive Office of Cocoa Board and social commentator, Fiifi Boafo, has sounded alarm over a troubling safety risk at the Tarkwa Women’s Market, where sections of the market floor have caved in due to illegal mining activities beneath the earth structure.

In a social media post, Boafo revealed that the underground galamsey operations have dangerously weakened the market’s foundation, creating a looming disaster for both traders and customers.

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“This has created a serious safety risk for the vendors and customers who frequent the market. After this incident, it is worrying to see that NADMO has only directed the illegal miners to fill in the affected area, without conducting a proper assessment of the damage or evaluating the potential dangers posed to the women who work there and the market’s patrons,” he wrote.

He expressed concern that despite the collapse, illegal miners are still carrying out their activities directly beneath the market as if nothing had happened.

Boafo who was also the PR Manager of Cocoa Board in the erstwhile Akufo-Addo Administration and a resident of Tarkwa criticized the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO) for failing to take decisive action, describing their response as inadequate.

According to him, simply filling up the caved-in section does not address the structural risks or the broader implications of mining under a heavily populated commercial area.

“This situation requires immediate action to ensure the safety of our community and to prevent any further incidents. Our mothers and sisters deserve a secure environment in which to carry out their business,” he stressed.

The Tarkwa Women’s Market is a major commercial hub for hundreds of women who depend on it for their livelihoods. Any further collapse, analysts warn, could not only claim lives but also disrupt economic activities in the mining town.

Boafo’s call adds to growing public concern over the widespread impact of galamsey, which has already devastated water bodies and farmlands, and is now directly threatening critical public infrastructure.

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Stakeholders are urging the Minerals Commission, local government authorities, and security agencies to move swiftly to halt the mining operations and conduct a comprehensive structural assessment of the market.

The safety of traders and customers, they argue, must be prioritized before the situation escalates into a full-blown tragedy.