By Patrick Teah Jr.
A 42-year-old miner has died in a tragic drowning incident at a mining site in Grand Kru County, sparking renewed concerns over safety standards at river-based mining operations.
The deceased, identified as Nani Toe, a resident of Buah Geeken, reportedly drowned on Friday, February 27, 2026, while carrying out routine mining activities in Kanta Village along River Noh.
According to county police authorities, the incident was officially reported on Saturday, February 28, by local mining representatives. A team of officers led by Superintendent Leon Q. Acquah, Commander of the Crime Services Division (CSD), visited the scene to conduct a preliminary investigation.
Police obtained a statement from 29-year-old Joe George Carl, who had been working alongside the deceased aboard a mining boat at the time of the incident. Carl told investigators that he began experiencing severe stomach pains and briefly left the boat to attend to personal needs, leaving Toe alone.
Upon his return, Carl said he was unable to locate Toe despite repeatedly calling out his name.
The matter was subsequently reported to the boat’s owner, Stanley Jappoe, who confirmed to authorities that Toe was employed on his vessel at the time.
Search efforts on Saturday led to the recovery of Toe’s body from beneath the river. The remains were brought ashore for examination in accordance with legal procedures.
A 15-member coroner jury was constituted to inspect the body and determine whether foul play was involved. Following its examination, the jury reported no visible signs of violence and ruled that the cause of death was drowning.
The family of the deceased later requested the release of the body for burial.
Despite the coroner’s ruling, both Carl and Jappoe were informed of their constitutional rights and taken into police custody as part of standard investigative procedures pending further inquiries.
The incident has renewed public concern about safety practices at mining sites across the county, particularly in river-based operations where workers often lack adequate safety equipment and emergency response mechanisms.
Police say investigations are ongoing.
