Arrest owner of mine site - DCE orders after woman, child drown in pit

The Bosome Freho District Assembly in the Ashanti Region has ordered the arrest of the owner of an abandoned mining pit that claimed the lives of a woman and her child at Bobriase, amid growing concerns over the dangers posed by unreclaimed mining sites in the district.

according to a myjoyonline.com report on June 19, 2026, the tragic incident occurred when the woman, who had her child strapped to her back, reportedly slipped and fell into a water-filled abandoned pit while attempting to fetch water for cooking. Both mother and child drowned.

District Chief Executive (DCE) Charles Appiah Kubi said the owner of the mining site failed to reclaim the pit after mining activities, creating a hazardous environment that has become a death trap for residents.

Speaking on the incident, Appiah Kubi expressed concern about the increasing number of abandoned pits scattered across the district.

“When I look at Bosome Freho, it's been almost a year since I've been District Chief Executive, and I came across so many abandoned pits. Some people have lost their lives through these abandoned pits. I can mention at least two or three people who have died in recent times because of them,” he said.

He explained that the recent tragedy occurred during a rainfall when the ground around the pit became slippery.

“In recent times, even last week, a lady fell into one of the abandoned pits while trying to fetch water to cook. Unfortunately, it was raining and the place was slippery. She fell into the pit together with her young child, and both of them lost their lives,” he added.

According to the DCE, the matter has been reported to the police, and efforts are underway to arrest the individual responsible for the mining site, who is currently evading arrest.

“The case has been reported to the police command, and the person responsible is now trying to avoid arrest. We want to ensure that proper work is carried out and also serve as a deterrent to others,” he stated.

Appiah Kubi disclosed that the Assembly has directed the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) in the district to undertake an inventory of all abandoned mining pits to identify their owners and facilitate legal action against those responsible.

“As I speak, we have instructed the NADMO Director to visit the various sites with abandoned pits so we can identify those who mined there. They will be traced and, if possible, arrested and taken to court,” he said.

The Bosome Freho District, one of the most deprived districts in the Ashanti Region, is dotted with numerous water-filled trenches and abandoned pits left behind by both legal and illegal mining operations.

Meanwhile, the district has signed onto a land reclamation initiative being implemented by the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, National Security, and the Ashanti Regional Coordinating Council.

Under the programme, small-scale miners operating in the district have reportedly agreed to reclaim mined-out lands voluntarily at no cost to the Assembly, in a bid to reduce environmental degradation and prevent future tragedies.