The Concerned Citizens of Atewa Landscape (CCAL) has called for urgent government action following the reported collapse of a mining pit at Asaman Tamfoe in the Atiwa East District, which the group says has claimed seven lives, with four others feared trapped underground.
In a statement dated August 31, 2026, CCAL expressed condolences to the affected families and said the incident highlights wider concerns about human safety, water security and environmental degradation across the Atewa landscape.
The group said its ongoing Zonal Coordinators Monitoring System (ZOCOMOS) has documented several streams originating from the Atewa Forest landscape that it says are being affected by illegal mining.
These include the River Tamfoe, River Kobeng, Yoyoo River, Asuonwunu River, Obeng River, River Gyapomadua, Senkye and River Kaakaabe. CCAL said its field observations indicate pollution, sedimentation and degradation of natural stream channels in several locations.
The group said it is also collecting water samples from selected streams for water-quality assessment.
CCAL called on government and relevant institutions to complete rescue and recovery efforts at Asaman Tamfoe, investigate the pit collapse and make the findings public. It also urged authorities to identify and secure dangerous mining pits, strengthen enforcement against illegal and unsafe mining, protect community water sources and accelerate the reclamation of degraded mining areas.
The group further called on Parliament’s Select Committee on Petitions to expedite action on a petition concerning the protection of the Atewa Forest landscape.
CCAL also congratulated Dr Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings on her appointment as Minister for Environment, Science and Technology and urged her to prioritise the protection of Atewa’s forests, streams and biodiversity.
The organisation said the latest incident should prompt a broader assessment of mining activities across the Atewa landscape, arguing that the safety of people and the protection of water resources must be addressed alongside mineral extraction.
