Court Remands 41 Suspects in Major Illegal Mining Operation

An Accra High Court has ordered the remand of 41 individuals, including eight Chinese nationals and four women, for their alleged involvement in illegal mining activities along the Tano and Subri rivers in Ghana’s Western Region.

The suspects face multiple charges, including unauthorized mining operations, illegal possession of firearms and ammunition, and water pollution under Section 24 of the Water Resources Commission Act. The arrests followed a police operation on April 17 near Samreboi, where authorities discovered the group operating excavators and other mining equipment in the rivers.

Prosecutors revealed that officers seized three pump-action guns, 310 live BB cartridges, and GH¢157,000 in cash from suspect Michael Gyedu Ayisi, along with suspected gold nuggets. The operation also recovered 17 excavators, a bulldozer, vehicles, and other mining equipment.

Presiding Judge Kizito Naa Koowa Quarshie has scheduled bail hearings for two groups of defendants. The first group of 29 suspects must file applications by April 24, with prosecution responses due April 28 ahead of an April 30 hearing. The second group, including the four women, will have their case heard on May 2.

This case represents one of the largest recent crackdowns on illegal mining (galamsey) in Ghana, highlighting the government’s ongoing efforts to combat environmental degradation caused by unauthorized mineral extraction. The involvement of foreign nationals continues to be a persistent challenge in Ghana’s fight against illegal mining operations that pollute water sources and destroy ecosystems.

The court’s decision to remand all suspects signals the judiciary’s tough stance on galamsey-related offenses, particularly those involving sophisticated equipment and potential transnational elements. Environmental experts note that operations along the Tano and Subri rivers pose significant threats to water quality and biodiversity in the region, with long-term consequences for local communities dependent on these resources.

Authorities maintain that such prosecutions are crucial to deterring illegal mining activities that have caused widespread environmental damage across Ghana. The case continues as the nation balances mineral resource exploitation with environmental protection and sustainable development goals.