Konongo pit collapse: All trapped miners rescued – Asante Akyem Central MCE confirms
The Asante Akyem Central Municipal Security Council has confirmed the successful rescue of all miners who were trapped underground following a pit collapse at Konongo in the Ashanti Region.
Speaking to Citi News on Saturday, May 16, the Municipal Chief Executive and Chairman of the Security Council, Dr. Ebenezer Ekow Aidoo, said the miners were trapped on Wednesday while working at the fourth level of a mining pit.
He explained that the workers involved were legally contracted miners engaged by a mining company, stressing that they were operating under formal arrangements with concession owners.
Dr. Aidoo noted that the situation worsened on Thursday evening after loose sand continued to fall, further blocking access routes and complicating rescue efforts, which prompted authorities to call in specialists from Obuasi to support the operation.
He further disclosed that emergency preparations were made ahead of the rescue, including the setting up of ten beds equipped with oxygen and intravenous infusion, adding that the rescued miners were immediately sent for medical evaluation after being brought to the surface.
According to him, the trapped workers formed part of a maintenance team reinforcing structural supports at the fourth level of the pit, while other miners were working on a different level at the time of the incident.
Dr. Aidoo used the opportunity to caution against unlicensed mining activities, revealing that authorities have begun arresting illegal operators while engaging others in efforts to regularise their operations under legal frameworks.
He also urged miners to prioritise safety and ensure proper maintenance of their pits to prevent similar incidents, stressing that measures are being strengthened to avoid future occurrences.
