Residents of Ayanfuri in the Central Region have reportedly abandoned a private construction project and began illegal mining activities after traces of gold were allegedly discovered at the site.
According to reports, the land was originally being excavated by a man intending to build a washing bay when the discovery was made.
Word of the find is said to have quickly spread, drawing crowds of residents to the site, who allegedly halted the construction work and began digging in search of gold.
Video footage circulating from the scene shows a large crowd gathered around a deep excavation pit, with some individuals seen descending into the pit as onlookers watched from above.
Ayanfuri, located in the Upper Denkyira West District, has a long-documented history of both formal and illegal gold mining activity, including previous fatal incidents involving collapsed galamsey pits in the area.
The Ashanti Gold Belt, which runs through the region, is known for substantial gold deposits, including the nearby Edikan Gold Mine.
The exact quantity or authenticity of the gold traces allegedly found has not been independently verified, nor has it been confirmed.
Illegal mining, known locally as galamsey, remains illegal under Ghanaian law and has been linked to numerous fatalities and significant environmental damage across mining regions.
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