New Death Toll From Asutifi South Mining Pit Collapse, Figure Revised Down to 9

• The death toll from the illegal mining pit collapse in Asutifi South was updated to nine after clarification from hospital authorities
• Four injured miners are reportedly receiving treatment at the St. Elizabeth Catholic Hospital amid ongoing rescue efforts
• The galamsey incident reinforced concerns about illegal mining taking place in the Asutifi South District of the Ahafo Region

The death toll from the illegal mining pit collapse on March 1, 2026, has been revised to nine, following new details from authorities.

Joy News reported that hospital authorities clarified that one body earlier counted among the deceased was unrelated to the cave-in, bringing the confirmed fatalities down to nine.

Adom News reported that the incident occurred at Atta Ne Atta, a community in the Asutifi South District of the Ahafo Region, on Sunday night.

Four injured miners are currently admitted to the St. Elizabeth Catholic Hospital in Hwidiem.

An undisclosed number of miners were believed to be trapped in the collapse.

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Rescue efforts and assessments are ongoing as authorities work to establish the full scope of the incident and the cause of the cave-in.

Atta Ne Atta falls within the constituency of MP Collins Dauda, where there was an attack on the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat.

Asutifi North MP under fire over galamsey

The Member of Parliament for Asutifi North, Ebenezer Kwaku Addo, faced intense scrutiny after the attack on the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat.

The MP, who is linked to the John Mahama administration, was alleged to have incited violence against the Director of Operations for the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS).

He has denied the allegations stemming from the incident on November 1, 2025 and is currently on bail.

Preliminary investigations established that at the time, state actors intercepted illegal miners operating near Bronikrom in the Ahafo Region and arrested some suspects, prompting resistance from a mob.

Addo has denied claims he led the attack, saying that, before setting off, he called Dauda to inquire of him if they could grace the funeral together.

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However, the veteran politician reportedly informed him that he was out of the country, and so he should represent him.

Upon reaching Hwidiem, Addo said he realised there was tension in the town, which prompted him to inquire about it, and he was told that the military was carrying out an operation at a mining site.

According to him, upon hearing this, he quickly called Dauda to inform him of the development, who then asked him to head to the site and hand over the phone to the leader of the military team.

Galamsey kingpin arrested after attempted bribe

YEN.com.gh also reported that the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat task force operating in the Ahanta West Municipality had arrested a so-called kingpin on January 31, 2026, rejecting a GH¢20,000 bribe from the suspect.

In a statement on Facebook, the Deputy CEO of the Forestry Commission noted that the task force raided several illegal mining sites within the Cape Three Points forest reserve, burning makeshift structures and the mining equipment.

Proofreading by Bruce Douglas, copy editor at YEN.com.gh.

Source: YEN.com.gh