Five illegal miners jailed 20 years each
The accused persons were arrested while mining in a river in the Prestea Huni-Valley Municipality
The Tarkwa circuit court has sentenced five persons to 20 years each to prison with hard labour for mining without authority.
Sampson Mefe, Eric Bentua, Francis Nkubi, Timothy Kumordja and Evans Larbi, although pleading not guilty were found guilty after trial.
Prosecuting, Mr. Kingsley Agyekum, Assistant State Attorney, told the court, presided over by Mrs Hathia Ama Manu, that the complainant was Nana Yaw Baako, the Assemblymember of Himan Electoral Area.
He said the accused persons lived at Ankobra, a community within the Prestea Huni-Valley Municipality.
On August 17, 2021, the complainant, together with five opinion leaders, had information that the accused persons were prospecting for gold nuggets in the Ankobra River.
He said after receiving the tip-off, they went to Kpoviadzi, a village in Prestea Huni-Valley Municipality, and found the accused persons mining in the river with a dredging machine.
They were immediately arrested and handed over to the police to assist in investigations, while the dredging machine was set on fire, prosecution said.
