Adoa News Adoa News
A 42-year-old woman and her three children have tragically drowned in a water-filled galamsey pit at Wassa Dunkwa in the Amenfi West Municipality of the Western Region.
The heartbreaking incident occurred on Saturday, February 28, when the family reportedly went in search of firewood near an abandoned illegal mining site that had become dangerously waterlogged.
A local source told Citi News that the three boys, led by their 14-year-old elder brother, gathered firewood and began the journey home ahead of their mother. However, on their way back, they reportedly stopped at the abandoned mining pit and entered the water.
Their mother, upon arriving at the scene and noticing her children in distress, attempted to rescue them. Unfortunately, she also got into difficulty and drowned.
The bodies of the four family members were later retrieved by personnel from the Asankragwa Divisional Police. They have since been deposited at the morgue of the Catholic Hospital for preservation and autopsy.
The Public Relations Officer of the Western Central Police Command, ASP Beatrice Turkson, confirmed the incident and indicated that investigations are ongoing. She added that a detailed statement will be issued in due course.
The tragedy has renewed concerns about the dangers posed by abandoned illegal mining pits, commonly referred to as galamsey sites, which often become death traps for unsuspecting residents, especially children.