The body of a businessman thought to be in his early 60s has been trapped underground in an AngloGold Ashanti (AGA) shaft for four days because rescue workers cannot get access to the area.
John Sackey, a resident of Kwabrakwa in Obuasi was reported to have died shortly after he descended the over 1 million foot shaft to illegally mine gold ores.The level 11 West Shaft which had been abandoned was barricaded to prevent people from going into it. Daily Guide has learnt that Sackey, who was last seen on September 30, had intended to use proceeds from the �galamsey� operation to offset GH�4,500.00 a bank loan but met his untimely death. Meanwhile law enforcement officers are investigating the matter.
Due to high risk of injury resulting from weak grounding and rock instability in the area, Obuasi Police are currently waiting upon the company�s rescue efforts to retrieve Sackey�s remains.Unconfirmed reports say the deceased was duped by some unknown illegal miners in the municipality and therefore decided to save himself from the wrath of his bankers by going underground.
The activities of galamseyers in the region continue to rise daily with operators endangering their own lives.Quite recently, a young man was trapped and buried underground in a bid to prospect for gold, many others have also ended getting injured or being maimed for life.
It is a common sight to see illegal miners climbing AGA haulage trucks during ore loading. Others create pits to link underground routes of the company in the name of gold prospecting.
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