The National Disaster and Management Organisation (NADMO) has confirmed that Tuesday’s cave-in at the “Mbesiafo Gua Mu” close to the Tarkwa main market was caused by the activities of an “unnamed” underground mining company. Ronald Regan Ofosu, the Tarkwa Nsuaem Municipal Director of Operations for NADMO, stated that their assessment of the area revealed an “unnamed” company had mined dangerously close to the surface, directly beneath the bustling market. “We saw that the company has dug away the natural pillars, like the rocks and sand,” he explained. “This activity is barely touching the surface, right under the market. This is not the first time we have recorded this incident. The whole area is an old underground mine shaft, and the locals have taken charge.” The miners, Mr. Ofosu noted, failed to replace the natural supports with any form of reinforcement, a critical lapse that left the ground unstable. “The resistance from the surface due to the trading activities caused the cave-in,” he said, highlighting how the everyday life of the market contributed to collapse. Given the significant threat to life, the Operations Director said NADMO had initially instructed the company to fill the void within 24 hours. The company, however, requested more time to ensure the job is done properly. “They asked us to give them three days, given the extent of work that they have to do. “We have agreed and have left them with the Ghana National Fire Service. However, we will be visiting the area to inspect the work every day till they finish.” When asked for the name of the company responsible for the mining, Mr. Ofosu said that those who contacted them failed to provide a name, explaining that “their documentation was not well-structured and they were still in the process of working on it with the Minerals Commission.” Despite the clear and present danger, the two traders whose businesses were directly affected by the collapse continue to operate inches from the void. For them, the risk is a necessary calculation for survival. “We cannot stop work,” one trader explained, a sentiment echoed by many in the market. “School has reopened, and we have to work and get money to help our children.” Their tired words reveal the difficult reality faced by many in Tarkwa as the economic imperative to provide for their families often blinds them to the immediate dangers lurking beneath their feet. In response to these pervasive risks, Mr. Ofosu indicated that NADMO has initiated a series of educational campaigns to inform miners and the public about the dangers associated with such activities, particularly among underground groups. The incident at the market serves as a grim and urgent reminder of why that education is so desperately needed. It also casts a stark light on the hidden dangers lurking beneath Tarkwa, where the quest for gold often runs parallel with the threat to public safety.