Wassa Akropong (W/R), Aug 4, GNA - Seven small-scale miners (galamsey) were injured when a pit they were working in collapsed at Dadieso near Wassa Akropong on July 31.

They are Sophia Mensah, 45, Juda Darko, 21, Ama Darkwa, 38 and Gloria Weredu, 21.

The rest are Francis C. Oduro, Augusta Armah, 30 and Gifty Kwakwa, 24. An eyewitness said the women were selling around the pit when it caved in but other galamsey operators working nearby rescued them. Dr Francis Y. Sarpong, Medical Superintendent in charge of the Wassa Akropong Hospital, said the people had used poverty as an excuse to engage in the galamsey operations to the detriment of their lives. He said the practice was having a negative effect on the health and livelihoods of the people and persistent advice to them to stop had not been headed to.