Rescue efforts are currently underway to retrieve the bodies.

Prestea District Police Commander, Superintendent Atsu Dzineku who confirmed the news to Citi News said the Police had began investigations into the incident, adding that those “found culpable will be dealt with.”

“… We have one Kojo Baah who is the owner of one of the pits. They have formed a joint association carrying that operation in the area. We are looking for them. They are on the wanted list. My divisional Commander was here and some elders also came. We have asked that they produce them for interrogation”.

When Citi News visited the area, two new rescue groups had been deployed. The 17 are believed to have been trapped since 3pm.

Reports of mining pits caving in on illegal miners in Ghana is not a new phenomenon, as many lives have been lost as a result. In 2016, two people died when a pit caved in on them at Akyem Ahwenease in the Eastern Region.

Some of the pits have been abandoned for several months by multinational mining companies that have been licensed to operate in the country.

Small-scale illegal miners often take advantage of the absence of the companies to mine in these already dug out and abandoned pits, despite the danger it poses.