Ernest Ntim
A High Court in Koforidua has fined the District Chief Executive Officer (DCE) of Atiwa East in the Eastern Region, Ernest Ntim, GH¢12,000 for contempt of court in an ongoing illegal mining (galamsey) case.
According to a myjoyonline report, the DCE was found to be in contempt of court after he allegedly went to a land which is the subject of an ongoing litigation, with parties injuncted from accessing or developing the said land.
The plaintiff is reported to have filed an application for interim injunction pending the final determination of the substantive suit by preventing parties and others from entering the land.
The injunction also barred persons from engaging in any form of mining activity or dealing with the land in any manner pending final judgement in the court case.
In spite of the pending injunction and the substantive matter in court, the applicant alleged that the DCE, his brothers, and other persons alleged to be illegal miners within the Atiwa East District, re-entered the land and continued galamsey operations, myjoyonline reported.
The report further indicated that court documents point out that on May 2, 2025, one of the DCE’s brothers, was confronted at the site and reportedly claimed that “his brother (now DCE) had been nominated for the position of DCE for Atiwa East, and on his confirmation, no one, not even the courts could interfere with their activities, and further added that even judges will become the subordinates of the DCE.”
The applicant reportedly averred in his affidavit that the conduct of the DCE and the other respondents was willful and deliberate, constituting contempt of court and an interference with the administration of justice intended to undermine the authority of the court.
The applicant is also said to have lodged a complaint with the Eastern South Regional Police Command at Kyebi on May 2, 2025, while the matter was still pending before the court, with the police making some arrest at the alleged galamsey site.
The report further noted that the applicant also alleged that after the arrests, the DCE confronted the applicant, stating that those arrested were his workers and warning that if the complaint was not withdrawn and he was later confirmed as DCE, he would change the ownership of the land and claim it as his own.
The DCE allegedly confirmed his brother’s assertion that “even the judges would become his subordinates” upon his confirmation, and advised the applicant to allow him to mine quietly.
The court, in its decision yesterday, found the DCE to be in contempt of court and subsequently imposed a fine of GH¢12,000 on him.
The substantive matter is still pending before the court.
BY Gibril Abdul Razak