Galamsay Man Needs 3 million cedis

Isaac Kwaku Gyabeng, a 29 year- old “galamsey” (illegal) miner survived three days trapped in a 1600 feet underground pit of Anglo gold Ashanti at Obuasi, but his ordeal is not over yet.

He now lies at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital in Kumasi requiring urgent surgery to correct a severe spinal injury he sustained when he was trapped, but his family say they are unable to raise the 3 million cedis initial deposit the hospital is demanding before the surgery.

By press time yesterday, the mother of the “galamsey”, Adwoa Donkor, had only been able to raise 1.3 million cedis and was making desperate efforts to find the remainder.

Kofi Edusei of the Public Affairs Directorate of Anglo gold Ashanti said Gyabeng and two others, now at large entered the pit on August 25.

Gyabeng was said to have been hit by a falling stone chip after going down through a hole illegally dug by galamsey operators. He sustained injuries on the head and hip rendering him immobile.

His accomplices left him, ostensibly to seek help to rescue him but they did not return. Information about his plight was relayed by a local radio station, Shaft FM, and Mr Edusei said and Anglogold rescue team rushed to his aid.

He was taken to the mine’s hospital with a swollen bladder and had to be assisted to urinate through the insertion of tubes, before he was referred to the KATH for further treatment.

Reportedly a master carpenter in Obuasi, Gyabeng claimed that it was his first attempt at “galamsey”.

He had decided to suspend his carpentry business which was not paying to join the illegal galamsey business, he explained.

In another development five other suspected galamsey miners were arrested by the mines security yesterday.

According to Mr Edusei, four of the suspected were arrested at about 6 am with bags, torches and screw drivers, while the fifth was arrested in a car which had a sack full of gold bearing stones. Two others with him escaped arrest.