Residents and youth of Manso Tontokrom in the Amansie South District have strongly refuted reports alleging that a mining pit collapse occurred in their community, describing the claims as false and malicious.

According to the group, no such incident took place in Manso Tontokrom or in any surrounding communities within the district.

Speaking on behalf of the youth, Kwabena Animoyam said the reports were not only inaccurate but also harmful to the reputation of the community.

The denial follows a 6:00 a.m. report by JoyNews on Monday, March 2, which claimed that a mining pit had collapsed at Manso Tontokrom, leaving about ten miners dead and several others trapped.

However, subsequent clarification indicates that the incident occurred at Atta Ne Atta, a community in the Asutifi South District — not in Manso Tontokrom as initially reported.

Mr. Animoyam described the publication as a calculated attempt to tarnish the image of the youth and derail ongoing efforts by the community to secure participation in the government’s cooperative mining programme, which residents believe will create employment opportunities and stimulate the local economy.

“JoyNews has a reputation for accurate reporting, but sadly, this particular news piece was incorrect.

Such false publications undermine the reputation and efforts of those in authority.

We do not want to believe today’s false publication is influenced by Asanko Mining Company,” he stated.

He emphasised that the community’s leadership would resist any reportage they consider malicious or intended to frustrate their quest to obtain a licence for regulated artisanal cooperative mining.

For several years, residents of Manso Tontokrom have been advocating for a mining licence to enable them to engage in lawful small-scale mining as a strategy to address youth unemployment in the area.

Meanwhile, authorities have revised the death toll from Sunday night’s illegal mining pit collapse at Atta Ne Atta to nine.

According to Erastus Asare Donkor, a correspondent with JoyNews, one body initially counted among the deceased was later determined to be unrelated to the cave-in, reducing the confirmed fatalities from ten to nine.

Four injured miners are currently receiving treatment at St. Elizabeth Catholic Hospital, Hwidiem, where hospital authorities say the patients are responding positively.

An undisclosed number of miners are believed to have been at the site at the time of the collapse. Rescue operations and investigations remain ongoing to determine the full extent and cause of the incident.

Atta Ne Atta falls within the Asutifi South Constituency, represented in Parliament by Collins Dauda.

The community has previously attracted national attention following a confrontation involving the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat.