Two Ghana unit committee members held over land leased to galamsey operators
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Four people, including two unit committee members, have been arrested after land they allegedly leased to illegal miners contributed to the collapse of the River Kukubu bridge at Abesua in the Ashanti Region.
Two Unit Committee members are among four people arrested in Ghana's Ashanti Region over illegal mining that led to the collapse of the bridge over the River Kukubu at Abesua in the Atwima Mponua District, MyJoyOnline reported on 30 October.
The other two suspects are illegal miners who were operating along the riverbanks. The bridge is the only access route linking Abesua No.1, Abesua No.2, Nyamebekyere, Abrokyire and adjoining communities to the main road at Serebuoso and Mankranso, and caved in after galamsey operators excavated and degraded land around it, causing the river to overflow onto the road and cut the communities off.
District Chief Executive Ibrahim Issahak said preliminary investigations had established a direct link between some local leaders and the illegal miners. According to the DCE, the two unit committee members allegedly collected money from the miners and leased out parcels of land around the bridge and along the river buffer zone for illegal mining.
"The illegal miners themselves accused the unit committee members of taking money from them and leasing to them. That is what our initial investigations point to," Issahak said. He said the four suspects are in police custody and will be arraigned before court on Monday, 3 November 2026, on charges relating to illegal mining and causing damage to public infrastructure.
The collapse disrupted livelihoods, health delivery and schooling in the affected communities. Residents said farmers could not transport produce to market centres, patients struggled to reach the nearest health facilities, and pupils commuting to Atwima Asamang Basic School often had to abandon school during rainfall.
Issahak said interim works were under way, with runoff water drained from the affected stretch, a clogged bridge culvert cleared and reinforcement using boulders, chippings and gravel ongoing to make the road motorable while plans for permanent reconstruction are considered. "We will not shield anyone. If you are found to have leased land for galamsey around this critical bridge, you will face the law," he warned.