Wa East District, Upper West Region – On the night of Monday, 26th May 2025, tragedy struck the Duu Community in the Wa East District when an illegal mining site, secretly operating under cover of darkness, collapsed. The devastating incident claimed the lives of five young individuals, with several others still feared trapped beneath the debris.

This heartbreaking event has once again exposed the deadly consequences of unregulated mining operations in the Upper West Region. The entire Duu community — elders, chiefs, women, and local leaders — is in deep mourning. The atmosphere is one of profound grief, anger, and disappointment.

Despite the gravity of the situation, no representatives from the Wa East District Assembly, the District Coordinating Director, the Member of Parliament, or the District Justice and Security Committee have visited the community. Their absence at this critical time has left residents feeling abandoned and ignored by those elected to lead and protect them.

Officials from Azuma Mining Company and the Minerals Commission visited the site only briefly for inspection. Shockingly, they have refused to engage with the community’s leadership — including the Assembly Member and traditional authorities — and have failed to deploy machinery or personnel to help rescue potential survivors still trapped underground.

“We expected our leaders to stand with us in our time of grief, but instead, we’ve been met with silence. This is not the kind of leadership our people deserve,” said Mr. Gafaru Sonko, Hon. Assembly Member for Duu Electoral Area.

The Duu Community is therefore making an urgent public appeal for immediate intervention and support. The families of the deceased — and the entire community — demand that local and national authorities show leadership, empathy, and take swift, decisive action to address this disaster.

This release is a direct call to action for:
• The Member of Parliament for Wa East
• The Wa East District Assembly and Coordinating Director
• The District Justice and Security Committee
• The Azuma Mining Company
• The Minerals Commission
• The National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO)
• The Ghana Police Service and other relevant security agencies

The people of Duu deserve better. The lives lost must not be forgotten, and every effort must be made to ensure that no one is left behind. The time to act is now.

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Issued by:
Office of the Assembly Member – Duu Electoral Area
Wa East District, Upper West Region