Reverend Minister, another bailed GHC 4M for contracting arrested Chinese illegal miners
When arraigned before the court presided over by Justice Mary Maame Ekue Yanzuh, the two were admitted to bail to the tune of GHC 2 million each with two sureties to be justified.
Two persons, including a Reverend Minister, have been granted a bail of GHC4 million Ghana Cedis by a High Court in Accra for allegedly contracting Chinese nationals to engage in illegal mining activities.
They are, Rev. Wallace Dela-Brown, a 56-year-old, and Wilberforce Essien who are facing two counts of conspiracy to mine without a license and contracting non-Ghanaians to engage in mining illegally.
When arraigned before the court presided over by Justice Mary Maame Ekue Yanzuh, the two were admitted to bail to the tune of GHC 2 million each with two sureties to be justified.
Presenting the case in court, Assistant State Attorney, Derrick Ackah noted that based on information received by the police on September 8, 2022, on the illegal mining activities, five Chinese nationals, Huang Qian Xi, LiJian Wen, Huang Qian Sheng, Shi Zhong Qi, and Wei LinXi, were arrested at Esiama near Nkroful in the Western Region.
He added that further investigations revealed that the Chinese suspects were contracted by Essien and Rev. Dela.
Subsequently, the police arrested Rev Dela and Essien who both admitted to contracting the Chinese nationals to undertake mining activities on the said concession belonging to Rev. Dela.
The two have meanwhile pleaded not guilty to the charges.