Police Investigate Deadly Dynamite Explosion at Aboso Tailings Site Triggered by Shotgun Blast at Python

On August 4, 2026, a tragic explosion at a tailings site in Aboso, located within the Prestea Huni Valley Municipality, claimed multiple lives and left several others injured. The Western Central Regional Police Command has launched a full investigation into the incident, which occurred around midday and sent shockwaves through the local community of Breman. Reports regarding the final death toll have varied slightly among sources, with some confirming three fatalities and others, including Graphic Online, reporting that four people died as a result of the blast. The deceased included the owner of the site, David Kofi Fletcher.

The explosion was reportedly triggered by a bizarre and unfortunate sequence of events involving an attempt to kill a snake. Workers at the site discovered a python and alerted the site owner, Mr. Fletcher. Upon his arrival at the scene armed with a shotgun, he fired at the reptile. However, the discharge from the firearm accidentally struck and ignited illegally stored dynamite or other explosive materials kept at the tailings site. The resulting detonation was massive, killing Fletcher and at least two others—identified by some sources as Solomon and Baba—while causing significant damage to nearby vehicles and residential properties.

Three survivors who sustained various degrees of injury were rushed to the hospital for emergency treatment, while the bodies of the deceased were transported to the Tarkwa Municipal Hospital for autopsy. The scale of the explosion caused widespread panic in the Aboso-Breman area, prompting an immediate response from emergency services and law enforcement. The blast serves as a grim reminder of the volatility of industrial explosives when not managed within strict regulatory frameworks.

The Minerals Commission is now collaborating closely with the Western Central Regional Police Command to determine the legality of the explosive storage and evaluate the overall safety protocols at the site. Authorities have used this tragedy as a stern warning to the public, urging citizens to report the illegal storage of explosives to the police to ensure public safety. As investigations continue, the focus remains on identifying any further regulatory breaches that contributed to the scale of the disaster.