At least one person has been confirmed dead at Banda-Nkwanta in the Bole District of the Northern Region after a galamsey pit close to the Bui Dam and the Damongo National Park in which they were prospecting for Gold collapsed on them last Monday.
He was rescued by members of the Banda Nkwanta Community and the Bole District Security Task Force. Six others who were on the same mission however escaped unhurt according to the District Chief Executive of Bole, James Jaaga.
The Bole DCE lamented the lack of equipments and excavator made the rescue operations problematic even though the District Security Council (DISEC) responded swiftly when they were informed.
He said the police have been stationed there to warding off the public from the area and protect lives and properties.
According to the DCE, illegal mining activities have been going on the restricted area belonging to the Department of Game and Wildlife and efforts to flush them out has proved futile.
Hon. Jaaga noted the activities of the illegal miners have been a major setback for the assembly resolve to promote environmental sustainability and called for collaboration among stakeholders to flush them out.
Meanwhile Mohammed Abdul-Raman Soale, Financial Secretary of the Bole Branch of the National small Scale Miners Association in confirming the disaster disagreed with the DCE on the number of casualties and said more bodies were still trapped in the pit.
He said the association has been battling with both the district assembly and the Department of Game and Wildlife of the Forestry Commission to offer licenses to prospective miners to regulate their activities.
He blamed the situation on the negligence of authorities and called for more collaborative efforts in dealing with the problem.
The site of the disaster for some time now has been a source of conflict between residents and the Wildlife and Game reserve of the forestry commission. The residents accuse the authorities of illegally granting permits to outsiders for their selfish gain in a restricted and reserve land.
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