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GH1.2 Billion Fine Imposed On Illegal Miner
Alexander Addo, 24, who is unemployed, was fined GHS 1.2 billion by a circuit court in Dormaa-Ahenkro, Dormaa Central Municipality of Bono Region, for indulging in small-scale mining without a permit.
Addo confessed to the crime, if not, he would be sentenced to 20 years in prison with hard labor.
The complainant, a farmer, and the convict both resided in different suburbs of Wamfie, the district headquarters of Dormaa East, according to Police Inspector (P/Inspt.) Emmanuel Asare, who testified before the court presided over by Mr. Samuel Djanie Kotey.
According to P/Inspt. Asare, the complainant had farmland in Wammu, close to Wamfie, where some of the lands had been used to grow plantains and vegetables.
He said that the prisoner and other “galamseyers” (illegal miners) had taken control of the area and severely damaged it for more than a year.
In light of this, all attempts by the police and the complainant to apprehend those illegal miners had been unsuccessful, according to P/Inspt. Asare.
It wasn’t until about four months ago that the complainant, with the help of a few young men, apprehended the accused while he was actively engaging in illegal mining on the farmland.
According to the prosecutor, the defendant fled while being escorted to the police station.
On Sunday, December 12, 2022, at around 1700 hours, the complainant paid a visit to her farm, where she encountered the accused and one other accomplice who were busily mining on the field.
She claimed that the complainant went into hiding, called her son, a witness in the case, to the spot, and they discussed how to apprehend the miners.
The accuser and his accomplice were washing and sieving some soil near the Wam River’s bank with the goal of finding gold when the complainant and her son discreetly went home and returned that evening at around 1900 hours.
The accused and his accomplice allegedly left when they noticed the complainant and her son, according to the prosecution.
However, they were able to apprehend the culprit and deliver him to the police, along with a washing carpet and a plastic container.
According to P/Inspt. Asare, the complainant went back to the area on Monday, December 19, 2022, at about 7:00 a.m. and discovered a pickaxe, a shovel, and a cutlass that are thought to be additional tools used by the accused and his accomplice.
In his investigative caution statement to police, the convicted offender admitted the crime during the course of the investigation and named one Effah of Wamfie as his accomplice.
When the police went to Effah’s house, they were informed that he had left town. Following further investigation, the inmate was charged with the crime.
Conclusion
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