UER: Minister Calls for Probe Into Mining Tragedy

 

Trapped victims 

The committee set-up to investigate the circumstances leading to the mining tragedy that resulted in some miners trapped in a mining pit at Gbane in the Talensi District of the Upper East Region has been given a 3-week ultimatum to produce a report on the said disaster. The Upper East Regional Minister, Stephen Yakubu who gave the directive is further urging the committee to also recommend solutions to avert future occurrences. He said every mining activity has been halted at the accident  place while  rescuing efforts are still under way to retrieve other bodies, if there is any still trapped  in the pit. 

According to him, nine (9) bodies were retrieved from the pit as at this dawn so far while the rescuing team are feverishly working to bring to an end that sad chapter which greeted the region Tuesday morning. Mr. Yakubu said this in his office as Radio Ghana sought more information on the situation at Gbane. Speaking with GBC NEWS, an opinion leader of Gbane, Alhaji, Opinion leader, Fahad Bagmeritamme, said innovative measures will be put in place to avoid the numerous mining accidents in the area.

Opinion Leader, Alhaji Fahad Bagmeritamme

Robert Boazor, Regional Chairman, Small Scale Miners Association

The Upper East Regional Chairman of the small-scale miners association, Robert Boazor, said the rescue operation team will continue to work until they retrieve all the bodies in the pits.

 The nine miners who met their untimely death include Debenbaane Tembora aged 30,  Zooh Ehig aged 28, Kweku Tii aged 25, Daniel Basuumah aged 27,  Kojo Balebinsin aged 42,  Naasigna Basuumah aged 25, Kolog Bering aged 21, Jonathan Naazie Laat aged 28 and Sampana Bangya aged 38. All natives of Gaare, Tindongo and Kpale communities respectively.

Police in the Upper East Region over the week confirmed that the bodies of nine miners trapped in a pit at the Gbane mining site have been recovered. Out of the number, 7 of the deceased persons are from Gare, one from Tindongo and one also from Kpale all in the Talensi District. According to the Assembly Member for  Gare-Gbane Electoral Area, John Nabwumya, two of the miners were still missing. He said the two missing persons are from Sissala East District in the the Upper West Region and Gbane also in the Talensi District respectively. The miners were trapped after the pit they were working was inundated with water out of a heavy downpour. A rescue team made up of the small-scale miners spent nearly 48 hours pumping water out of the underground mining tunnels in a desperate attempt to locate and rescue the miners. It has now been confirmed that nine of them drowned and their bodies have been found.

Meanwhile, another person has been confirmed dead bringing the number to ten.  

GBCs Samuel Ayammah