Manso-Fawotrikye (Ash), April 7, GNA - Four illegal miners were killed and three others suffered cuts and broken bones when a 26-feet deep pit collapsed on them at Manso-Fawotrikye in the Amansie-West District. The deceased were identified as Akwasi Appiagyei, Clement Abanga, Charles Appiah and Akwasi Ascona.

The bodies had been retrieved by the police and deposited at the Agroyesum Saint Martin's Catholic Hospital mortuary. The injured Afua Mansah, 32, Akua Kobi, 28, and Kwabena Ofori 14, are receiving treatment at the same hospital.

Mr Charles Oti-Prempeh, the District Chief Executive, accompanied by the District Police Commander, Deputy Superintendent of Police Stephen Kwakye has visited the community to express his condolences to the bereaved families and inspected the disaster scene. Addressing the people, he called on the illegal miners to regularize their activities by applying for license to engage in small scale mining.

Mr Oti-Prempeh urged the youth not to allow the lust for money to drive them into potentially risky ventures.