Police have launched investigations into an explosion at a tailings site in Aboso, near Tarkwa, in the Western Central Region, which claimed three lives and left three others injured.
The incident occurred on Tuesday, August 4, 2026, with the injured victims currently receiving medical treatment.
Preliminary findings by the Western Central Regional Police Command suggest that the explosion may have been triggered after workers at the site spotted a python and alerted the owner of the facility, the late David Kofi Fletcher.
According to the Police, Mr Fletcher reportedly went to the site armed with a pump-action shotgun to kill the reptile. Investigators suspect that after he fired the weapon, the pellets struck explosive materials believed to have been unlawfully stored at the premises, resulting in the blast.
The explosion caused significant damage to surrounding properties, including shattered windows in nearby homes. Six vehicles parked at a nearby washing bay also suffered damage, with their windscreens and windows destroyed by the impact.
In a statement released on Wednesday, August 5, the Police expressed condolences to the families of the deceased and confirmed that the bodies had been deposited at the morgue.
The Minerals Commission has since been informed and is working with the Police as investigations continue to determine the full circumstances surrounding the incident.
The Command has also cautioned the public against the illegal possession, storage, handling or sale of explosives, warning that such activities pose serious risks to public safety. Residents have been encouraged to report any suspected cases of illegal explosives handling to the nearest Police Station.
