Three people have died after a mining pit collapsed on them at Odumase-Santenso in the Asante Akyem Central Municipality of the Ashanti Region.

The victims, identified as two women and a man, were reportedly between the ages of 21 and 25 and were engaged in illegal small-scale mining popularly known as “one-man” mining.

The incident occurred at about 4:00 p.m. on Friday, August 7, 2026.

According to the caretaker Assembly Member for the area and Assembly Member for the Bomeriso Electoral Area, Isaac Kyei Andoh, residents alerted him shortly after the pit collapsed, prompting an immediate rescue effort.

Mr Andoh said he informed the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), following which arrangements were made to secure a backhoe to assist in retrieving the trapped miners.

However, the equipment reportedly developed a mechanical fault and could not be deployed.

A private backhoe was subsequently arranged, but before it arrived at the scene, residents had already managed to dig through the collapsed pit and retrieve the bodies.

The three bodies were recovered between 6:30 p.m. and 7:00 p.m., according to Mr Andoh.

Traditional rites were performed at the scene by local chiefs before the remains were conveyed to a mortuary.

Mr Andoh explained that the victims were involved in “one-man” mining, an unregulated form of small-scale mining in which individuals dig deep pits using basic or makeshift equipment in search of gold.

“I got a call around 4 p.m. about the pit collapse. We mobilised a vehicle to release the bodies from the pit. The chiefs performed some rites before the three bodies were sent to the mortuary. The deceased include two women and a man, aged between 21 and 25 years. The pit caved in and killed them,” he said.

The tragedy has renewed concerns about the dangers associated with unregulated mining activities in the area, particularly the use of unsafe mining pits and makeshift equipment.

It has also highlighted concerns over the loss of young lives through illegal mining operations in the Asante Akyem Central Municipality, with calls for stronger measures to prevent miners from working in hazardous conditions.

Source:Adomonline

Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod), Sammy Gyamfi, has rejected allegations linking his bodyguards to gold trading and the alleged theft of GH¢200 million belonging to the state agency.

Speaking during an X Spaces session on Sunday, August 9, 2026, Mr Gyamfi described the claims as “laughable” and accused unnamed political opponents of orchestrating a deliberate disinformation campaign against him and GoldBod.

He insisted that none of his bodyguards is involved in gold trading or has stolen money belonging to GoldBod.

“None of my bodyguards is involved in gold trading, and none of my bodyguards has stolen or taken Gold Board money,” he said.

Mr Gyamfi also distanced himself from Dominic Bonsu, a licensed gold dealer at the centre of the controversy, denying claims that Bonsu had served as his bodyguard.

According to the GoldBod CEO, Bonsu is, to his understanding, an NPP constituency executive in the Manso area of the Ashanti Region and has no personal relationship with him.

He further described suggestions that Bonsu was part of his security detail as “laughable”, citing the physical differences between the two men.

“You can see that I’m a very lean guy, but the last time I saw him, when he was brought from remand custody, I saw that I’m more muscular than him. I’m bigger than him. I don’t see how that guy can be my bodyguard. So it is laughable,” he said.

Mr Gyamfi accused some of his political opponents of deliberately spreading false information to damage his reputation and undermine GoldBod.

He alleged that the campaign was being led by Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin, Atiwa East MP Abena Osei-Asare and Ofoase Ayirebi MP Kojo Oppong Nkrumah.

“There is a deliberate disinformation agenda against Sammy Gyamfi and the GoldBod by people who think that Sammy Gyamfi is the reason why they are in opposition. So it is time to pay Sammy Gyamfi back,” he said.

He urged journalists and members of the public to independently verify allegations made against him or GoldBod before accepting them as fact.

Mr Gyamfi also claimed that some of his critics had been protected from legal action because certain allegations were made under parliamentary privilege.

He warned that he would consider legal action if the same allegations were repeated outside Parliament.

Addressing questions about Dominic Bonsu, Mr Gyamfi said Bonsu was a licensed Tier Two gold buyer under GoldBod’s regulatory framework.

He stressed that GoldBod’s licensing process was digital and based on qualification rather than political affiliation.

“We don’t look at people’s political colours — we give licences to any Ghanaian who is qualified,” he said.

Mr Gyamfi explained that, because the licensing system is digital, he personally does not meet most of the individuals who receive licences from the institution.

He said he had signed more than 1,000 licences but was unlikely to have met face-to-face with 99 per cent of the licensees.

GoldBod has previously stated that Dominic Bonsu Ventures’ Tier Two gold trading licence was suspended in July 2026 over suspected breaches of licence conditions and trading directives.

Bonsu was subsequently arrested and remanded into custody by an Accra High Court, with the case still pending.

GoldBod and Mr Gyamfi’s lawyers have separately rejected claims that the institution suffered a GH¢200 million loss, describing the allegations as false, malicious and defamatory.

Beyond the controversy, Mr Gyamfi used the X Spaces session to highlight the government’s broader plans for Ghana’s gold sector.

He said the administration was focused on strengthening the domestic gold value chain, increasing local refining capacity and improving oversight of gold trading activities.

He also credited the Mahama administration’s gold-led reserve accumulation strategy with contributing to a significant increase in Ghana’s foreign reserves.

According to Mr Gyamfi, the country’s foreign reserves have risen from approximately US$8.9 billion to US$13.8 billion under President John Dramani Mahama.

He maintained that GoldBod’s reforms were aimed at ensuring Ghana derives greater value from its gold resources while strengthening transparency and oversight across the sector.

Source:3news

The Accra Regional Police Command has arrested two brothers in connection with the alleged murder of a 54-year-old man and the shooting and injury of his wife at Beach Drive Estate, Tuba, near Weija.

The suspects have been identified as Adams Adder Almeida and his brother, Bala Bilyon. Their arrests were made with assistance from the Cyber Vetting and Enforcement Team (CVET), according to a police statement dated August 9, 2026.

The incident occurred on Thursday, August 6, 2026, after the Weija Police received information that a man and his wife had been shot at Beach Drive Estate.

A police team from the Weija Division was dispatched to the scene, where officers found Rahman Mohamed, 54, and his wife, Christiana Fosu, 53, suffering from gunshot wounds outside their four-bedroom apartment.

The couple was immediately conveyed to Finney Hospital in Weija for medical attention.

However, Rahman Mohamed was pronounced dead upon arrival at the hospital. His wife, Christiana Fosu, was referred to the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, where she remains on admission and is responding to treatment, according to the police.

The body of the deceased has since been deposited at the Police Hospital Mortuary, pending an autopsy.

Suspect allegedly confesses

The police said that during interrogation, Adams Adder Almeida allegedly admitted to shooting Rahman Mohamed and his wife.

According to the suspect’s account, he was motivated by his perception that the deceased had repeatedly described him as “lazy and useless.” He allegedly told investigators that those remarks had affected him mentally.

Following the interrogation, Adams allegedly led investigators to his brother Bala Bilyon’s room at Beach Drive Estate, Tuba, where investigators retrieved a pistol believed to have been used in the shooting.

Police said the firearm was allegedly concealed beneath the wardrobe in Bala Bilyon’s room.

Further investigations established that Adams Adder Almeida and Bala Bilyon reside together in the same room at Tuba.

Police search for alleged firearm source

Adams also allegedly told investigators that the pistol had been given to him by a friend identified as Gideon.

Based on information provided by the suspect, investigators proceeded to Gideon’s residence at Tuba in an attempt to locate him.

However, Gideon was not at home when the police arrived.

The police said efforts are ongoing to locate him to assist with the investigations.

Meanwhile, Bala Bilyon has been arrested and is being interrogated as police continue to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident and the possible involvement of other persons.

The Accra Regional Police Command says investigations are ongoing.

A Queen Mother reportedly fell from a palanquin during the ongoing Mozama Festival at Gomoa Tarkwa in Ghana’s Central Region.

The incident occurred as chiefs and queen mothers gathered at the festival grounds to take part in the colourful traditional celebrations.

As part of the festivities, several traditional leaders were carried on palanquins while dancing and engaging with the crowd during the procession.

However, the joyful celebration took an unexpected turn when one of the Queen Mothers reportedly lost her balance and fell from the palanquin.

The incident attracted the attention of people at the festival, with attendees watching as efforts were made to assist her.

The Mozama Festival continues to draw traditional leaders, residents and visitors together to celebrate the cultural heritage and traditions of Gomoa Tarkwa.

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The Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL) has barred two Port Health officers from working at the Accra International Airport and any other airport operated by the company after they were found to have allegedly extorted money from a foreign traveller.

According to GACL, the incident occurred on Wednesday, August 5, 2026, at Terminal 3 of the Accra International Airport, where the two officers were found to have demanded more than the approved fee for the issuance of a Yellow Fever Card.

In a statement dated August 6, 2026, GACL said the approved charge for a Yellow Fever Card is US$20 for foreign passport holders and GH¢100 for Ghanaian passport holders.

However, the two officers allegedly charged a foreign passport holder US$40, twice the approved fee.

Immediate action taken

GACL said it took immediate action after the incident was identified.

The identification cards that enabled the two officers to operate inside the airport terminal were withdrawn and deactivated.

The company further stated that, effective Thursday, August 6, 2026, the two officers were no longer permitted to work at the Accra International Airport or any other airport operated by GACL.

The latest action forms part of the company’s stated commitment to tackling extortion and other forms of improper conduct involving personnel working at Ghana’s airports. 

Immigration officer also transferred

GACL also addressed a separate incident involving a Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) officer.

Management said it had taken note of a viral video circulating online in which a GIS officer was seen demanding money from a passenger for what was described as “breakfast.”

GACL said the Ghana Immigration Service had confirmed that the officer involved had since been transferred from the airport. 

The development has added to concerns over alleged demands for unofficial payments from passengers at the airport, prompting renewed calls for greater accountability among personnel who interact directly with travellers.

GACL urges passengers to report extortion

GACL has urged passengers and other members of the travelling public to remain vigilant and report any suspected acts of extortion or improper demands for money.

The company has adopted the message:

“Spot it. Record it. Report it.”

Passengers who encounter such incidents have been encouraged to contact GACL’s dedicated hotline on 054 217 5636. The number is available for calls, WhatsApp and text messages.

GACL said the reporting channel is intended to help passengers bring suspected misconduct to the attention of management for appropriate action.

‘Everyone is being watched’

Reiterating its position on the issue, GACL stated: “Everyone is being watched.”

The company said it remains committed to a zero-tolerance policy on extortion and to protecting the integrity and reputation of Ghana’s airports.

The latest action follows other measures announced by GACL to address extortion and inappropriate demands for money from passengers, including stronger monitoring and reporting mechanisms. 

GACL said it would continue to work with relevant airport stakeholders to ensure that passengers receive services without being subjected to unofficial charges or demands for money.