Ten illegal miners granted bail

Cape Coast, Jan 12, - The ten illegal miners, who were arrested last week by the National Small Scale Mining Taskforce for engaging in illegal mining on the Offin River have been granted bail by a Cape Coast Circuit court.

The ten, all Ghanaians are Tokoli Joshua, student, 20, Ayiku Akle, mechanic, 30, Mumuni Ibrahim, unemployed, 16, Vidogo Atta, unemployed, 22, Evans Tetteh, unemployed, 22 and Richard Atogli, unemployed, 16.

They rest are, Ben Sabla, unemployed, 22, Nana Yaw Barima, driver, 25, Daniel Ayitey, fisherman, 26 and John Acquah, driver’s mate, 20, all pleaded not guilty and were granted bail to the sum of GH₵6,000,000.00 each , with two sureties each to be justified.

They were  charged  with conspiracy to  conduct  illegal mining on River Ankobra and also undertaking small scale mining operations without licence contrary to section  23 of the Criminal Offences Act 1960, Act 29 and section 99 (2) of the Minerals and Mining Act 2006 Act 703,  as amended in Act 900 of 2015.

The Court presided over by Mr. Kofi Seshie Ametewee was adjourned to Monday February 5.

Prosecuting, Police Sergeant Comfort Akorfa Banini, told the court that all accused persons were Ghanaians and were residents at Dominase near Dunkwa-On-Offin in the Upper Denkyira East District.

She said on Friday January 5, 2018 at about 1300hours, the National Small Scale Taskforce was on its usual patrol at Bepotenten, near Dunkwa-On-Offin and arrested accused persons prospecting for gold on the Offin River.

They were arrested and handed over to the Central Regional Police Criminal Investigation Department for further investigation.

GNA