Bogoso-Prestea Mine Tragedy: Relevant Agencies on Ground- Lands Minister
The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah, says the relevant state apparatus is stationed at the Bogoso-Prestea mining site where some illegal miners have died.
According to him, the state agencies are verifying the full situation and offering support in the response effort.
He also extended his condolences to the bereaved families and the community at large.
He added, “I remain committed to safer and lawful mining so communities are protected and no family has to endure such loss.”
In an earlier statement, Heath Goldfields, manager of the mining concession, said three persons who died yesterday at their underground workings were illegal miners.
According to the company, they were among a group of illegal miners who infiltrated and got trapped within an inactive area of underground workings on their Prestea concession.
“Preliminary reports indicate that these individuals used unauthorised routes to access a restricted area of the Mine, leading to the tragic loss of 3 lives.”
It noted that it was cooperating fully with the relevant authorities, including the Ghana Police Service, the Minerals Commission and the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), to support ongoing investigations and retrieve bodies of those trapped.
It is reported that the illegal miners suffocated to death after an unidentified smoke, suspected to have emanated from a blast, caused carbon gas to fill the underground, leading to their death.
Story by Hajara Fuseini
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