A mother, her two sons, and another child from her family have tragically drowned in an abandoned illegal mining pit at Wassa Dunkwa in the Wassa Amenfi West Municipality of the Western Region.
The deceased have been identified as Mary Arthur, 43, a farmer; Hayford Arthur, 11; Richard Asabre, 14; and Eric Mensah, 11.
Mr. Paul Kattah, Assembly Member for the Wassa Dunkwa Electoral Area, told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) that the incident occurred on Saturday, February 28, 2026.
According to him, the family had gone to gather firewood near the illegal mining site.
After collecting the firewood, the three boys reportedly left it by the roadside and decided to swim in the flooded pit before heading home.
Mr. Kattah explained that a witness —another child who saw the boys drowning — ran to inform their mother.
Madam Arthur rushed to the scene and, upon seeing the children in danger, immediately jumped into the water to rescue them. Unfortunately, she also drowned.
He said the Asankragwa Divisional Police Command was informed and retrieved the four bodies, which were sent to the Father Thomas Alan Rooney Memorial Hospital in Asankragwa for preservation and autopsy.
Mr. Kattah added, “I have visited Mr. Kofi Nipa, a mason and husband of the late Madam Mary Arthur, and it is a very difficult moment for him.”
He noted that Mr. Nipa is currently being supported by loved ones and members of the community as he recovers from the shock.
