Atewa east: Mr Emmanuel Konja Tullah, Deputy Eastern Regional Director of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) in charge of Technical and Disaster Risk Reduction, has called on mining companies to conduct regular risk assessments to identify potential hazards and prevent accidents at mining sites.
According to Ghana News Agency, Mr Tullah also urged mining companies to strengthen security around their concession areas to prevent illegal miners from accessing them and advocated the reclamation of mined-out lands to reduce the risk of people falling into abandoned pits. He made the call during an interview on the sidelines of an incident where seven suspected illegal miners were trapped and died in a galamsey pit collapse at Asaman Tamfoe in the Atewa East District on August 30, 2026.
Mr Tullah noted that the District Security Committee (DISEC) was working to strengthen security at the scene while investigations were ongoing to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident. He emphasized that findings from these investigations would help inform the implementation of stricter safety measures and preventive strategies to avert similar occurrences in the future.
He further stated that NADMO, in collaboration with key stakeholders in the mining sector, would intensify public education and awareness campaigns in mining communities across the Eastern Region to promote adherence to safety regulations. Mr Tullah stressed that such interventions were necessary to ensure that mining activities were conducted in a manner that safeguarded lives, property, and the environment.
The Deputy Regional Director also advised the youth, particularly those involved in illegal mining, to refrain from activities that endangered their lives and livelihoods. He encouraged them to pursue safer and lawful economic opportunities rather than engaging in illegal mining activities that exposed them to avoidable risks.