An Accra High Court has remanded 41 accused persons for their alleged involvement in galamsey activities in the Tano and Subri rivers near Samreboi in the Western Region.
The 41 individuals, consisting of four women and eight Chinese nationals, have been charged with undertaking a mining operation without a license, possession of firearms and ammunition without lawful authority, and pollution of water contrary to Section 24 of the Water Resources Commission Act, 1996 (Act 522).
On Tuesday, April 22, the prosecution indicated to the court that on April 17, 2024, while embarking on special operations as part of measures to curb galamsey, Police uncovered the suspects on the Tano and Subri rivers near Samreboi operating excavators, Changfang machines, and other mining equipment, as well as washing dug-out sand.
They further noted that three pump-action guns together with 310 live BB ammunition, as well as a black bag containing GHC 157,000 and five small transparent sachets containing yellow substances suspected to be gold nuggets were found in the possession of one of the suspects, Michael Gyedu Ayisi.
The accused persons were arraigned before the court in two sets – the first set comprised 29 suspects, including 8 Chinese nationals, while the second, involved four women.
Presiding judge Kizito Naa Koowa Quarshie directed the lawyers of the first set to file their bail applications by April 24 and ordered the prosecution to file their opposing documents by April 28.
They are to reappear before the court on April 30.
With regards to the second set of 12 accused persons, consisting of the four women, the court gave the same orders but adjourned proceedings to May 2.
In the first set of 29, the accused persons include Michael Gyedu Ayisi, Alhassan Phammed, Solomon Obour, Kwesi Nkansah, Abubakari Imrana, Kwame Ofori, James Hoku, John Osei, Kwasi Asare, Francis Asaah, Ernest Kankam, Derrick Amoako, Derrick Shun, Henry Osei, Kingsley Larbi, Ibrahim Mohammed, Aikins Adomah, Asante Joseph, Michael Mintah, Ernest Obeng, and Justice Owusu.
The Chinese persons accused of operating and repairing the excavators being used by the miners at the site are Wei Shi Liu, Huang Hai En, Zhang Yu Yi, Cheng Shao Mi, Li Dao Xi, Wei Zhu Xian, Wei Shi Yu, and Huang Wei Dong.
The prosecution also disclosed to the court that seventeen (17) excavators, one (1) bulldozer, four (4) motor bikes, three (3) vehicles, four (4) pump-action guns, one (1) single-barrel gun, fifty-four (54) live BB cartridges and eight (8) pumping machines were retrieved at the sites during their raid.
