The Central Regional Director of the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO), Mr. Kwesi Dawood, has revealed that the region has recorded 22 drowning incidents in the past seven months, largely due to abandoned and unconverted galamsey pits.
He noted with concern that many of the victims were school children, describing the trend as both “alarming and heartbreaking.” Mr. Dawood further indicated that the actual figures may be higher since some cases go unreported.
Mr. Dawood made the disclosure at the launch of a land reclamation and tree-planting campaign spearheaded by the Central Regional NADMO Secretariat in collaboration with MMDCEs, traditional authorities, and security agencies. The initiative seeks to curb environmental destruction and reduce human risks associated with illegal mining.
The reclamation exercise will target high-risk districts, including Assin North, Assin Central, Upper Denkyira East and West, Twifo Ati-Morkwa, Twifo Hemang Lower Denkyira, and KEEA.
To support the effort, the Central Regional Minister, Hon. Ekow Panyin Okyere Eduamoah, has deployed heavy equipment under the government’s Responsible Mining Initiative.
Mr. Dawood also appealed to small-scale miners to actively support the project, noting that free crop seedlings will be distributed to affected communities to restore livelihoods on reclaimed lands.
