A woman and her six-month-old baby have tragically drowned in an abandoned galamsey pit at Bobeam in the Bosome Freho District, leaving residents in shock and mourning.
According to residents who spoke to OTEC News reporter Kwame Agyenim, the incident occurred on June 10, 2026.
The deceased, believed to be a woman from northern Ghana, had reportedly relocated to the community with her husband, Fuseini, to engage in farming.
Residents said she was at home caring for their three children while her husband was working on the family farm.
Reports indicate that the woman had gone to fetch water when she accidentally slipped and fell into an uncovered abandoned mining pit. Her six-month-old baby was strapped to her back at the time of the incident.
A nine-year-old son of the deceased reportedly witnessed the tragedy and immediately rushed to alert his father.
An eyewitness, Akua Boakyewaa, recounted the events that followed.
“Her nine-year-old son rushed to the family’s farm to inform his father. But by the time they arrived at the scene, both the mother and child had already drowned,” she said.
Residents say illegal mining activities remain widespread in the area, leaving behind numerous abandoned pits that have not been reclaimed or secured.
Community members have expressed concern about the dangers posed by the uncovered pits, particularly to women, children and farmers who use paths near the affected areas.
The incident has renewed calls for authorities and mining regulators to take urgent action to reclaim abandoned galamsey sites and ensure that dangerous pits are properly covered.
Residents believe such measures are necessary to prevent similar tragedies and protect lives in mining communities across the country.
The deaths of the mother and her infant have plunged the Bobeam community into grief, with many residents demanding stronger enforcement against illegal mining and stricter rehabilitation of degraded lands.
