Godfred Yeboah Dame, Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, has revealed that there are about 850 individuals currently facing trials for allegedly engaging in illegal mining activities popularly known as galamseys.
Godfred Yeboah Dame gave this revelation at the 2024/2025 Annual General Conference of the Ghana Bar Association.
According to him, 140 cases of illegal mining are under investigation across five regions namely the Western, Eastern, Ashanti, Greater Accra, and Upper East.
Ghana’s once upon a time purest water resources and enviable forest reserves now face imminent danger as the activities of illegal miners have escalated in at such an alarming rate leading to the Ghana Water Company announcing that due to the destruction of the Pra River, the water company cannot supply the needed volumes to Cape Coast and surrounding areas.
Mr. Godfred Yeboah dame stated that, the prosecution process has faced a myriad of challenges however, the government is not relenting on cracking the whip on individuals involved in the illicit act adding that 76 convictions have been done since August 2021 with one notable convict being the famous Aisha Huang.
He continued to assure Ghanaians and all stakeholders that the government remains resolved in combating the galamsey canker, with stringent measures imposed on those convicted. These include minimum sentences of 15 years and substantial fines for non-Ghanaians involved in illegal mining activities.
Mr. Dame also noted that some cases are at the conclusion state, expressing optimism about the judiciary’s continued role in fighting illegal mining.
Addressing the attendees at the Annual General Conference of the Ghana Bar Association, Godfred Yeboah Dame said, “Illegal mining, galamsey, continues to cause damage to our forest reserves and water bodies. Despite the difficulties prosecutors encounter in the courts in the prosecution of illegal mining offences, the criminal division has enjoyed some success, even though there is still room for more to be done.”
He further added, “From August 2021 till date, at least 76 persons, including 18 foreigners, have been convicted. These include the notorious Chinese galamsey queen, Aisha Huang, who was convicted on December 4, 2023, for offences committed between 2014 and 2016 under the previous government.”
Godfred Yeboah Dame re-echoed that most of the convicts were sentenced under the new law, that is, Act 995, which imposes a minimum of 15 years plus a hefty fine for non-Ghanaians and a minimum of 20 years plus a fine for non-Ghanaians in some cases.
“Currently, over 140 cases of illegal mining involving over 850 accused persons are being prosecuted in courts across the Western, Eastern, Ashanti, Greater Accra, and Upper East regions of Ghana. Some are near conclusion,” he added.
Source: Kobina Darlington/peacefmonline.com
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