Nii Youzhu, a Chinese galamsey operator, and two others died in separate illegal gold mining pits on the 15th and 18th of February 2013 in the Western Region, according to reports by the Western Regional Police Command in Sekondi.

The Ghana Chamber of Mines reported that about 300 people died in 2011 in various galamsey operations and has advised that people who want to engage in small scale gold mining should register with the Minerals Commission to do that job in a more responsible and technical manner, devoid of risks.

Police said at about 10 am on February 15, Nii Youzhu, a 46-year-old galamsey operator, went into a galamsey pit dug by the Chinese at Wassa Jukwa, near Wassa Akropong, to examine a heap of sand concentrate containing gold.

In the process, he was trapped by some loose sand and died in the pit.

The body was retrieved later and deposited at Wassa Akropong Government Hospital mortuary for autopsy.

Police told Daily Guide that they were investigating the case, but they did not suspect any foul play.

The body of Kwabena Nyarko, 45, a galamsey operator, was also found floating in a galamsey pit full of water on the outskirts of Asuogya Krobo, near Wassa Akropong, in a decomposed state on February 15 at about 0900 hours.

It was sent to Wassa Akropong Government Hospital where Dr. Ernest Anderson performed a post-mortem and released it to the family for burial.

Police also told DAILY GUIDE that a third galamsey disaster occurred at Abena Bena near Wassa Akropong on February 18 at about 1100 hours, when Bobel Mensah, 43, went to a galamsey site together with his colleagues to prospect for gold.

While they were in the pit chiselling some gold-bearing rocks, the pit caved in and Mensah was buried under the debris.

The other galamsey operators quickly removed the debris on top of the victim and rushed him to Dunkwa-on-Offin Government Hospital, where he was admitted but died the same day while receiving treatment.

The body has been deposited in the hospital’s morgue pending autopsy.