Court remands 12 illegal miners for polluting Tano River

Court Update

The Criminal Division 5 of the High Court in Accra has remanded 12 individuals. They are accused of illegal mining and polluting the Tano River in the Western Region.

The accused include Evans Atanga Agana (motorbike mechanic), Stephen Tuffour Bempah (trader), and Samuel Addai (driver). Others are Joseph Antwi (commercial motor rider), Elijah Atambila (mason), and Kennedy Akwasi Awimbora (student). The group also includes Waja Matthew (farmer), Naya Sampana (butcher), Janet Atanga, Beatrice Amponsah, Aishetu Gariba, and Grace Enyonam Amorkupor, all traders.

They face two charges. Count One is for mining without a license under Section 99(2)(a) of the Minerals and Mining Act. Count Two is for polluting water under Section 24 of the Water Resources Commission Act.

The prosecution claims that on April 18, 2025, they mined illegally at Aboi-Nkwanta. They allegedly polluted the Tano River by washing sand into it during their activities.

Senior State Attorney Nana Ama A. Prempeh presented these facts in court. She stated that police arrested the accused during an anti-galamsey operation directed by the Inspector General of Police.

This operation targeted illegal mining along the Tano and Subiri rivers near Samreboi. Officers found the accused actively mining in visibly polluted water.

Several accomplices fled before being caught. Efforts to apprehend them continue as investigations proceed.

Justice Quarshie remanded the accused into police custody. The case is adjourned to May 14, 2025.