Galamsey disaster: Families kick against ban on galamsey

The pit that claimed the lives of 17 galamsey workers

The pit that claimed the lives of 17 galamsey workers






Family members mourning the death of their beloved relatives in Monday’s tragic mining disaster are kicking against the ban of galamsey operations in Ghana.

Seventeen people died when a galamsey mine at Dunkwaw-Kyekyewere in the Central Region collapsed Monday morning.

Five others survived the disaster. Even though the victims claim there are others still trapped in the collapsed mine, the rescue mission have had to call off the rescue operation 24 hours after the disaster.

The bodies of the victims were sent to the mortuary for identification by family members.

Mortuary authorities are considering a mass burial for the victims whose bodies are not claimed by Wednesday.

As the family members wail and grief over their dead relatives they told Luv FM’s Erastus Donkor they have no immediate plans of quitting the job that has brought them so much pain.

One of the relatives said the galamsey job is their only source of livelihood and shudders to think about what they would do without the job.

Even though she conceded that the galamsey mining is a risky venture, she would rather die trying to make money than to go hungry and not do anything about it.

Meanwhile, the Metropolitan Chief Executive of the Upper Denkyira East, Peter Ahyia in an interview with Joy News denied speculations there could be survivors trapped in the mine.