Two final year students from Junior High School (JHS) tragically lost their lives after falling into an abandoned illegal mining pit at Dunkwa-Abasewa in the Upper Denkyira East District of the Central Region.
The deceased have been identified as Dominic Abu, aged 15, and Enoch Ogo, aged 16, both students of the Abisco M/A Basic School at Abesewa. The incident occurred on Monday, April 8, reportedly as they were returning home from school.
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According to reports, one of the students fell into the pit, and in an attempt to rescue their friend, the other student also entered the pit, which was filled with water, and tragically drowned. Their bodies were later recovered.
Residents in the area have expressed concern over the dangers posed by the uncovered illegal mining site, especially given the repeated incidents of fatalities.
It was reported that a similar incident occurred about two years ago, where a final year student from St. Andrews Senior School fell into the pit while attempting to use a shortcut route from Abesewa to Barrier, which was flooded.
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Ernest Arkon, the Assemblyman for the Compound Electoral Area, expressed distress over the recurring deaths at the illegal mining site. He has issued a four-month ultimatum to the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) and the Member of Parliament for Upper Denkyira East to take action to reclaim the land, threatening to organize a large-scale protest if they fail to do so.
