Patriensa collapse, as well as other unrecorded cases, are a manifestation of the effects land degradation and the likes…
The town of Patriensa in the Asante-Akyem Central District of the Ashanti Region has witnessed a pit collapse which claimed at least two people’s lives and left up to 11 trapped. The tragic incident reportedly happened at 3:00 am on Monday, July 24, when the illegal miners descended into the trenches to look for gold.
See: Why Mass Burial Was Given to Trapped Victims of Prestea Mine Collapse
According to reports, many of the miners had been dismissed by some military officers who interrupted their illegal dealings. However, some of them including the deceased, returend to the site after the officers left.
Some eyewitnesses who interacted with the media said there could be more people, than the available figures, trapped underground. Several attempts have been made by authorities in the area to pull out more bodies from the pit. Konongo police boss, Superintendent Ohene Boadi Bossman has said they will be compelled to use an excavator to see if they could discover more bodies.
The Patriensa collapse comes only a few weeks after a tragic one at Prestea-Nsuta in the Western Region. A pit had also collapsed on illegal miners in the aforementioned area earlier this month, claiming so many lives. Following failed attempts to discover bodies from the scene, a mass burial was held for the trapped victims.
The widespread practice of illegal mining in the country otherwise known as Galamsey has led to massive degradation of lands and pollution of water bodies in the country. The recent cases of mine collapse, as well as other unrecorded cases, are a manifestation of the effects of land degradation and the likes.
Several efforts have been made by the government to curb this illicit act. According to reports, President Nana Akufo-Addo’s government has deployed more than 400 personnel from the Ghana Armed Forces and the Police Service, to end the practice. Moreso, The Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Galamsey Taskforce, Major Gariba Paddy has disclosed that his men have been tasked to arrest people who are found engaging in illegal mining.
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