23-year-old man escapes death after concrete floor caves in at Tarkwa

A 23-year-old man narrowly survived after the concrete floor of a shop collapsed beneath him in the early hours of Tuesday at the 18th Lane area of Tarkwa, raising fresh concerns over underground instability linked to mining activities in the municipality.

The victim, identified as Abeiku, escaped what residents described as a potentially fatal incident after the ground suddenly gave way near the structure where he had been sleeping.

According to eyewitness accounts, the incident occurred shortly after Abeiku stepped outside the shop to brush his teeth. While standing near the building, he reportedly noticed the ground beneath him beginning to sink before a section of the surface suddenly collapsed.

In a desperate attempt to save himself, he grabbed onto a nearby metal object and held on tightly until residents rushed to assist him out of the collapsing ground.

The incident created a deep crater between two adjoining structures — a small-scale mining kitchen used for gold processing and a dressmaking shop — sparking fears among residents about the structural safety of buildings within the area.

Community members suspect the collapse may be connected to underground disturbances caused by illegal and unregulated small-scale mining activities, commonly referred to as galamsey, which have long been a major concern in Tarkwa and surrounding communities.

Residents say underground excavations carried out close to residential areas may have weakened the soil and compromised the stability of the land beneath several structures.

The latest incident has revived memories of similar ground collapse cases previously recorded in Tarkwa. In September 2025, a massive sinkhole emerged near the Tarkwa market area popularly known as “Mbesiafo Gua Mu,” causing panic among traders, commuters, and residents.

At the time, the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) attributed the sinkhole to underground mining activities that had weakened support structures beneath the surface.

Officials explained that extensive underground excavations had destabilised the area, eventually leading to a sudden surface collapse within the busy commercial zone.

Tuesday’s incident has once again heightened concerns over the safety of buildings and public spaces located above areas suspected to have been affected by illegal mining operations.

Residents are now calling on authorities to intensify inspections, enforce mining regulations, and conduct geological assessments in vulnerable communities to prevent future disasters.

Tarkwa-Nsuaem remains one of Ghana’s major gold mining centres, but the municipality has also faced persistent challenges linked to illegal mining, including land degradation, environmental destruction, water pollution, and ground instability.

As of Tuesday evening, the Tarkwa-Nsuaem Municipal Assembly had not issued an official statement regarding the exact cause of the collapse. However, ConnectNews has gathered that the affected area has since been cordoned off to prevent further danger to residents and passersby.