Galamsey verdict: Enchi magistrate should be removed for incompetence - Ashigbey - Channel1 News

Dr. Kenneth Ashigbey, the Convener of the Ghana Coalition Against Galamsey (GCAG), has criticized a recent court ruling in Enchi. He is calling for the removal of the magistrate involved due to alleged incompetence and misconduct.

This ruling has attracted significant attention. It has reignited debates about Ghana's fight against illegal mining, known as "galamsey." The Enchi District Court granted bail to individuals arrested for mining in Boin Forest Reserve. It also ordered the Forestry Commission to return confiscated machines, including two excavators.

In a statement on April 1, Dr. Ashigbey urged Ghanaians to hold lawmakers and judges accountable. He emphasized that "silence is complicity." He called for exposing all enablers of the galamsey crisis, from courtrooms to mining sites.

Dr. Ashigbey stressed the need for disciplinary action against the magistrate. He stated that this magistrate should face removal from office for misconduct or incompetence.

He referenced former President Akufo-Addo’s amendment, Act 995, which increased penalties for galamsey offenses. This act also limited judicial discretion in such cases. Dr. Ashigbey argued that mistrust in judicial decisions highlights the need for urgent reforms.

"This case shows the clash between legal formalism and ecological survival," he added. The GCAG has called on the Attorney General to appeal this ruling. They want justice to support environmental preservation efforts.

The statement concluded: "The forests cannot speak, but their fate will echo through generations."