Four people were killed and several others injured on Tuesday, August 4, 2026, after a dynamite explosion tore through a tailings site at Breman in Aboso, a mining town in the Prestea Huni-Valley Municipality of Ghana’s Western Region.
Police say a gunshot fired at a snake ignited explosives that had been stored at the site, triggering the blast.
How the Aboso Dynamite Explosion Happened
According to preliminary police findings, workers at the site spotted a python and alerted the facility’s owner, identified as David Kofi Fletcher. Fletcher reportedly arrived with a pump-action shotgun to kill the reptile, but the shot missed and pellets struck dynamite slabs believed to have been illegally stored on the premises, setting off a powerful explosion.
A slightly different account from the Assembly Member for the Akutuase Electoral Area, Emmanuel Eshun, said a resident first spotted the snake and fired a warning shot to scare it away, after which a security guard at a nearby shop also fired at the animal. In his version, that shot is what struck the stockpiled explosives. Both accounts agree that gunfire aimed at the snake ultimately triggered the blast.
Panic in the Community
Residents in the area were left shaken by the force of the explosion. One eyewitness described the sound as being mistaken for a natural disaster, saying many people initially thought it was an earthquake before learning explosives had detonated near a filling station in the community. Emergency responders were dispatched to the scene to assist victims and bring the situation under control, as panic spread through the mining town.
Death Toll and Police Investigation: Aboso Dynamite Explosion in the Western Region
Three people, including site owner David Kofi Fletcher, are reported to have died instantly in the blast, with two other victims identified only as Solomon and Baba. A fourth person later died while being transported to hospital, bringing the confirmed death toll to four, according to most accounts of the incident.
The Western Central Regional Police Command has opened a full investigation into the explosion, and the Minerals Commission has also been notified and is working jointly with police to determine the source and legality of the explosives found at the site.
Police Statement and Safety Warning
In a statement issued on Wednesday, August 5, the Western Central Regional Police Command confirmed that the bodies of the deceased had been conveyed to the morgue. Police reiterated that the illegal possession, storage, handling or sale of explosives is a serious criminal offence that poses grave risks to public safety, and urged members of the public to report any suspected illegal storage of explosives to the nearest police station.
Renewed Concerns Over Explosives Safety in Mining Areas
The tragedy has renewed concerns about compliance with explosives safety regulations at mining and tailings sites across Ghana’s Western Region, an area where small-scale mining and gold processing activity is widespread.
Authorities say the incident underscores the dangers posed by unlicensed explosives dealers operating close to residential communities, and investigations are ongoing to establish how the dynamite came to be stored at the Breman site in the first place.
Key Details on Aboso Dynamite Explosion in the Western Region at a Glance:
- Explosion occurred at a tailings site in Breman, Aboso, Prestea Huni-Valley Municipality, Western Region, on Tuesday, August 4, 2026
- Police say a gunshot aimed at a snake struck illegally stored dynamite, triggering the blast
- Site owner David Kofi Fletcher is reported to be among three people who died instantly; a fourth victim died while being transported to hospital
- Western Central Regional Police Command and the Minerals Commission are jointly investigating the source and legality of the explosives
- Police confirmed on Wednesday, August 5 that the bodies had been conveyed to the morgue
- Authorities are warning against the illegal storage, handling or sale of explosives
Frequently Asked Questions: Aboso Dynamite Explosion
What caused the Aboso explosion?
Police say a gunshot fired at a snake that had alarmed workers at a tailings site struck dynamite slabs believed to have been illegally stored nearby, triggering the explosion.
How many people died in the Aboso explosion?
Most reports put the death toll at four, including the site owner, though at least one report has placed the confirmed toll at three pending further verification.
Where did the Aboso dynamite explosion happen?**
The blast happened at a tailings site in Breman, within Aboso, a mining town in the Prestea Huni-Valley Municipality of Ghana’s Western Region.
As investigations continue, police and the Minerals Commission are expected to determine how the explosives ended up at the site and whether anyone else will face charges over their illegal storage. For now, the incident stands as a stark reminder of the risks posed by unregulated explosives handling in Ghana’s mining communities.
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- External (authority): Ghana Police Service official channels, or the Minerals Commission: https://www.mincom.gov.gh
