Mother, three children drown in abandoned galamsey pit at Wassa Dunkwa
A 42-year-old woman and her three sons have lost their lives after drowning in an abandoned illegal mining pit at Wassa Dunkwa in the Amenfi West Municipality of the Western Region.
The heartbreaking incident occurred on Saturday afternoon when the family reportedly went to gather firewood near a galamsey site. An eyewitness speaking to Joy News said it is common for residents to visit the area to collect dried cocoa trees for firewood.
After assembling the firewood and leaving it by the roadside, the children allegedly went to swim in a nearby pit created by illegal miners. The water-filled pit turned deadly when the boys began to struggle in the water.
Their mother, noticing their distress, quickly rushed in to rescue them. Sadly, she was unable to save her sons and also drowned.
The bodies have since been retrieved and deposited at the morgue of the Catholic Hospital. Police in Asankragwa have launched an investigation into the tragedy.
Assembly Member for Wassa Dunkwa, Paul Kata, confirmed the incident.
The tragedy has once again heightened concerns over the hazards posed by abandoned galamsey pits in several communities across the Western Region.
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