Ghana Mourns Four Drowned in Galamsey Pit, Ten Dead in Mine Collapse

Tragic Loss in Wassa Dunkwa: Mother and Three Sons Drown in Abandoned Galamsey Pit

On Saturday afternoon, March 1, 2026, a heartbreaking incident unfolded in Wassa Dunkwa, within the Amenfi West Municipality of Ghana’s Western Region. A 42-year-old mother and her three sons lost their lives after drowning in an abandoned illegal mining pit, commonly known as a galamsey site.

The family had gone to the area, near an old galamsey operation, to gather firewood from dried cocoa trees, a routine task for many local residents. After collecting the wood and setting it by the roadside, the boys reportedly approached the nearby water-filled pit and entered it, possibly to swim or play.

They quickly began struggling in the deep, murky water.Seeing her children in distress, the mother rushed into the pit in a desperate attempt to rescue them. Tragically, she too was overcome and drowned alongside her sons. The children included two of her biological sons and one nephew, with the eldest being 14 years old.

The abandoned pit, left uncovered and hazardous after illegal mining activities ceased, claimed the entire group in moments. Local reports from outlets such as JoyNews, MyJoyOnline, and Connect FM highlighted the event, with images of grieving community members and the recovery efforts circulating widely.

This devastating loss has renewed public outrage over the persistent dangers of galamsey across Ghana. Unregulated small-scale gold mining has left countless open pits that fill with rainwater, turning them into silent death traps for children and adults alike. Similar incidents have occurred in recent years in various regions, claiming dozens of lives and underscoring the failure to properly reclaim or secure abandoned sites.

Communities and activists continue to call for stronger enforcement, stricter regulations, and urgent action to end illegal mining practices that not only destroy the environment but also shatter families in preventable ways. The tragedy in Wassa Dunkwa stands as a somber reminder of the human cost when oversight and accountability remain inadequate.