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Galamsey pit kills 2 women at Bonsukwadaa
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• Illegal mining is still rife in some areas
The act has gained notoriety over the years due to its devastating nature and the environmental problems that it has brought in its trail.
Though efforts are being made to discontinue its operation in the country, illegal gold mining, popularly known as “galamsey” is deemed to be the preserve of males due to the ruggedness of the work.
But, it is interesting to note these days that females are gradually getting involved in the job that needs strength and endurance to cope with difficult conditions that the operations go through.
Unfortunately, luck,however, eluded two females who entered into an abandoned pit to prospect for gold at Bonsukwadaa, a farming community in Atwima Mfensi, in the Ashanti Region, as they were trapped and died.
The incident took place on March 24, 2023, and the victims have been identified as Safia Moro, aged 40 and Vivian Kyei,33.
A police source told The Spectator that, the two women were busily mining for gold in the pit around 3:00PM, when it suddenly caved in on them.
According to the police source, the bodies were found in the pit which was filled to the brim with dirty water.
“The the bodies were soiled with mud and blood was also found on the face of Vivian Kyei”, the source indicated;
The source also observed that mining activities had taken place within a vast portion of the area where the bodies were found.
The bodies have since been deposited at Mount Sinai Mortuary, Tabre, for preservation and autopsy.
According to the police, “Coroner’s forms had been prepared for the information of the District Coroner”.
Meanwhile, investigations were underway, the police source said.
Mr. Isaac Owusu, the Committee Chairman of Atwima Mfensi, said upon learning of the unfortunate incident, he informed the police.
From Kingsley E. Hope, Kumasi
African leaders have been urged to strengthen political commitment and domestic investment to end preventable maternal deaths and AIDS by 2030.
The call comes as African health ministers and policymakers meet in Accra to deliberate on health financing, health security and universal health coverage across the continent.
Mr Edouard Bizimana, Burundi’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and Development Cooperation, made the call on Tuesday at the opening of the African Union’s (AU) 25th Extraordinary Summit on Health in Accra.
He said Africa needed increased domestic investment to build resilient health systems as it continued to grapple with infectious diseases and the growing burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs).
Mr Bizimana, who is also Chairperson of the AU Executive Council, said although Africa accounted for nearly 17 per cent of the world’s population, it bore 24 per cent of the global disease burden while having less than three per cent of the global health workforce and only one per cent of global health expenditure.
“Despite maternal mortality declining by nearly 40 per cent since 2000, Africa still accounts for about 70 per cent of maternal deaths globally, while almost two-thirds of people living with HIV reside on the continent,” he said.
Mr Bizimana said the growing burden of NCDs was placing additional pressure on already stretched health systems.
“These figures are not merely statistics. They represent painful human realities, preventable losses and unacceptable inequalities, they remind us that health is not an expense it is a strategic investment and a prerequisite for our sovereignty and development. “he said.
Mr Bizimana said recent global health emergencies had exposed Africa’s vulnerability and underscored the need to expand local production of medicines and vaccines, strengthen the health workforce and improve emergency preparedness.
“Our citizens expect resilient health systems where every mother can give birth safely, every child has access to essential healthcare and every African enjoys quality health services regardless of where they live,” he said.
The two-day summit, being held ahead of the 20th Extraordinary Session of the AU Assembly of Heads of State and Government, has brought together health ministers, policymakers and health stakeholders to identify solutions to Africa’s health financing and security challenges.
Madam Florence Samizi, Tanzania’s Deputy Health Minister, called for stronger collaboration among AU Member States to accelerate progress towards universal health coverage.
The summit is being held on the theme: “Advancing Justice, Equality and Universal Health Coverage: Ending AIDS, Tuberculosis, Improving Maternal Health, Addressing Endemic Non-Communicable and Neglected Tropical Diseases in Africa.”
The meeting is expected to adopt the Accra Declaration, a roadmap to strengthen Africa’s health systems and advance health sovereignty by 2030. -GNA
Senior Lecturer at the University of Ghana’s Department of Political Science, Dr. Joshua Jebuntie Zaato says the imprisonment of the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, will have little meaning unless it leads to a broader crackdown on illegal mining.
In a post on his Facebook page on the July 21, 2026, Dr. Zaato said the judgment should mark the beginning of efforts to completely eradicate galamsey and hold all those involved accountable, regardless of their political affiliation.
He said the country must work towards restoring polluted rivers, protecting forests and ensuring that people implicated in illegal mining activities are prosecuted.
According to him, those the President has publicly acknowledged to be involved in galamsey should face prosecution.
He called for the prosecution of district chief executives (DCEs), members of Parliament (MPs) and senior political party officials who have been accused of engaging in or supporting illegal mining.
Dr. Zaato further urged the government to take decisive action to end the destruction of the country’s forests caused by galamsey.
He maintained that the imprisonment of Chairman Wontumi would only have a lasting impact if it results in a comprehensive and impartial fight against illegal mining across the country.
By: Jacob Aggrey
