A section of the suspected illegal miners during the screening session
A Bawku circuit court, presided over by Prosper Gomashie, has fined 109 illegal miners various sums of money, ranging from GH¢1,200 to GH¢12,000, after they had pleaded guilty to the various charges leveled against them.
The fines were slapped on each illegal miner based on the gravity of their offences. Those who were fined GH¢1,200.00 are to serve a three-year imprisonment term if they fail to pay the money; and those fined GH¢12,000.00 will go in for six years in default.
The suspects were charged for unlawful entry into a forest reserve, erecting buildings and other structures without authorization and illegally mining in a forest reserve without authorization by the Forestry Commission.
Mr Prosper Gomashie called on residents of Zamela and Ghanaians in general, to be friendly to and protective of their immediate environments so as to preserve them for future generations.
Presenting the facts of the case in court, the prosecutor, Joseph Nyame, said on May 17, 2018, personnel of the Operation Kondanlgou were on their operational duties which took them to the eastern wing of the Red Volta Forest Reserve – otherwise known as Zamela Forest Reserve – in the Nabdam District of the Upper East Region.
He said members of the taskforce came across the illegal miners in an unauthorized settlement, deep inside the forest reserve, having caused so much damage to that portion of the reserve they were occupying.
He said the taskforce saw the people engaged in illegal mining activities and were arrested.
Mr Joseph Nyame indicated that a search conducted on some of the illegal miners revealed 50 kilograms of dynamite explosives and an unspecified quantity of dry green leaves suspected to be marijuana (wee), as well as some other narcotic drugs. Other items that were seized from the Zamela Forest Reserve settlement included a KIA mini truck with registration number AW-407-14 and a number of motorbikes.
Meanwhile, DAILY GUIDE has learnt that the 109 illegal miners were among over 200 people that were arrested from the Zamela Forest Reserve settlement and screened at the Bawku Police Station.
From: Ebo Bruce-Quansah, Bawku