SHS student found dead in galamsey pit; family suspects foul play

A male student of Nkawkaw Senior High School has died after he allegedly drowned in a galamsey pit at Sakapiah in the Birim North District of the Eastern Region.

The 18-year-old Richard Akyaw, a first year gold-track student, had gone to spend the school holidays with his parents at Kyenkyenku.

He joined his friends in search of gold when the sad incident occurred around 5:00pm Thursday, May 29, residents told 3news.com.

The body was retrieved on Friday at about 11:00am, but the family say they suspect foul play.

They claim he was murdered and his body dumped into the pit.

Their suspicion was triggered by a swollen neck and bruises found on the body.

The matter has since been reported to the Police in the area.

According to the Eastern Regional Police, Maxwell Amponsah of Akoase reported to the Akoase Police Station Friday that he went to the old Sankara Galamsey site at Sakapiah to swim with his friend, Akyaw.

Amposah, according to the Police, claimed that Akyaw “fell into the pit and got drowned”.

“Police visited the scene and with the help of divers the body was removed with blood coming from the nose and mouth,” a police report stated.

Arrest

Owner of the pit, Kelvin Essien, aged 39, has been arrested and detained whiles Amponsah has also been called to assist in investigations.

The body of the deceased has since deposited at Holy family hospital mortuary at Nkawkaw pending autopsy.