Four Bodies Retrieved as Eleven Galamseyers Feared Dead in Abandoned Bogoso-Prestea Mine

Four bodies have been retrieved following an incident at an abandoned underground mine in the Bogoso-Prestea enclave of the Western Region, where 11 artisanal miners, known locally as galamseyers, became trapped.

The incident occurred in a disused mining concession linked to Heath Goldfields, although the company has yet to issue an official statement.

Local authorities report that the mine is not currently operational. Some community members claim that a section of the underground mine collapsed, burying the miners alive, while others believe the miners may have suffocated due to thick smoke, suspected to be the result of an underground blast.

Emergency teams and local volunteers have retrieved four bodies, which have been transported to the Prestea Government Hospital. The remaining miners remain unaccounted for, and rescue efforts are ongoing.

Previously, the site was part of an active mining concession, but it has since been abandoned, rendering it vulnerable to illegal mining activities.

Residents claim that the area has become a frequent site for galamsey operations, notwithstanding warnings about the unstable nature of the old shafts.