The Criminal Division 5 of the High Court in Accra, presided over by Justice Kezita Naa Koowa Quarshie, has remanded 12 individuals into police custody for allegedly engaging in illegal mining operations and polluting the Tano River in the Western Region.
The accused are Evans Atanga Agana, alias Oldman (motorbike mechanic); Stephen Tuffour Bempah, alias Kofi Adutwum (trader); Samuel Addai (driver); Joseph Antwi, alias Kofi Antwi (commercial motor rider) and Elijah Atambila (mason).
The rest are Kennedy Akwasi Awimbora (student); Waja Matthew (farmer); Naya Sampana (butcher); Janet Atanga (trader); Beatrice Amponsah (trader); Aishetu Gariba (trader) and Grace Enyonam Amorkupor (trader) – are facing two charges.
Under Count One, they are accused of undertaking mining operations without a licence, contrary to Section 99(2)(a) of the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703) as amended by Act 995.
The prosecution alleges that on April 18, 2025, the accused persons engaged in unlicensed mining activities at Aboi-Nkwanta in the Western Region.
Count Two accuses them of polluting water, an offence under Section 24 of the Water Resources Commission Act, 1996 (Act 522).
The accused allegedly polluted the Tano River by washing dug-out sand into it during their mining activities, exceeding permissible pollution levels set by the Environmental Protection Agency.
Senior State Attorney, Nana Ama A. Prempeh, presenting the brief facts, told the court that the accused were arrested during a special anti-galamsey operation conducted by police officers from the National Headquarters, under the direction of the Inspector General of Police.
The operation targeted illegal mining on the Tano and Subiri rivers near Samreboi.
During the operation, officers discovered the 12 individuals actively engaged in illegal mining, with visibly polluted brownish water at the affected sections of the river.
Several accomplices reportedly fled the scene before they could be apprehended. Efforts to arrest those at large are ongoing, while investigations continue.
Justice Quarshie remanded the accused into police custody and adjourned the case to May 14, 2025.
