Seven suspected illegal miners have died after a backfilled mining site collapsed on them at Asaman Tamfoe in the Atewa East District of Ghana’s Eastern Region.
The incident happened in the early hours of Sunday, August 30, 2026, when the miners allegedly entered the reclaimed site to carry out illegal mining, locally known as “Koli Koli”.
According to preliminary information, the men were digging beneath the backfilled portion of the site when the ground gave way, trapping them underneath.
Their deaths have since triggered investigations into the circumstances surrounding the incident, including how the miners gained access to the reclaimed area.
Authorities are expected to visit the site on Monday as efforts continue to establish exactly what happened.
The District Security Council, led by the District Chief Executive, is also expected to meet the bereaved families and offer its condolences as the community comes to terms with the tragedy.
Illegal mining remains a major concern in parts of the Eastern Region, where abandoned and reclaimed mining sites can pose serious risks to people who enter them.
Authorities are yet to provide further details on the identities of the deceased or say whether any arrests have been made in connection with the incident.
