A seemingly ordinary Monday morning at the Women’s Market in Tarkwa took a troubling turn when traders arrived to find the frontage of two shops had collapsed overnight, leaving a deep and dangerous cavity in the ground.
The affected shops, located in the Mbesiafo Gua Mu section of the market, now sit precariously at the edge of a gaping hole that extends dangerously close to nearby stalls — a stark warning of the increasing threat posed by the area’s undermined terrain.
### No Casualties, But Lingering Fear
Fortunately, no injuries were reported, and market activities resumed later in the day. However, the mood was tense, with shop owners and customers alike expressing concern over safety.
Despite the visible hazard, the shopkeepers reopened their businesses, determined to keep earning a livelihood — though worried that the damage might deter customers.
Nearby traders responded by moving their goods to safer spots, shaken by how close the incident came to becoming a major tragedy. Many expressed relief that the collapse occurred at night, rather than during busy market hours.
### A Town on Fragile Ground
Tarkwa, one of Ghana’s most intensively mined towns, has long faced challenges stemming from its weakened underground structure — a result of decades of both industrial and artisanal mining activities dating back to the colonial era.
This latest incident adds to a growing list of land subsidence events in the area. In 2021, a galamsey pit collapsed near Bonsawire, killing seven people. In 2023, another collapse occurred at the Tarkwa Community Mine.
Studies conducted by the University of Mines and Technology (UMaT) and the Ghana Geological Survey Authority (GGSA) have confirmed that several parts of Tarkwa are highly susceptible to underground collapses due to unstable geology.
Experts Call for Action
Geologists and safety experts are urging immediate and expanded geophysical assessments of Tarkwa and surrounding communities to better identify and monitor high-risk zones. Without proactive intervention, they warn, the likelihood of future disasters — especially in populated areas — will only increase.
Source: theghanareport.com
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