Boy, 19, Dies In Mining Pit

A 19-year-old student of Nana Amoakwaw Junior High School at Wassa Damang in the Prestea Huni-Valley District, met his untimely death last Wednesday evening when he allegedly drowned in a mining pit in the area.

DAILY GUIDE gathered that the alleged abandoned mining pit was full of water when the 19-year-old fell into it and drowned at about 7:00pm on Wednesday.

According to sources, the pit was in the vicinity of Goldfields Damang mines, a gold mining company in the area.

DAILY GUIDE learnt that the deceased was being chased by security personnel of the mining company for allegedly going to its dumping site in search of steel balls.

In the process the he fell into the pit which was filled with water, and drowned.

Francis Toku Aubynn, the assembly member for Damang electoral area, who confirmed the story, could not indicate whether the pit belonged to Goldfields, but said the pit which was full of water was located in the territory of the mining company.

He pointed out that with support of some residents, the lifeless body of the young man was removed from the pit and deposited at the Tarkwa Hospital morgue.

He told DAILY GUIDE that the police had started investigating the case to unravel the circumstances leading to the death of the young man.

 From Emmanuel Opoku, Takoradi