Twelve remanded over galamsey activities on Tano river
Those remanded include Evans Atanga Agana, known as Old Man; Stephen Tuffour Bempah, alias Kofi Twum; Samuel Addai; Joseph Kofi Antwi (Kofi Antwi); Elizabeth Atambila; and Kennedy Akwasi Awimbora. The others are Waja Matthew, Naya Sampana, Janet Atanga, Beatrice Amponsah, Aishetu Gariba, and Grace Enyonam Amorkupor
Twelve individuals accused of engaging in illegal mining activities have been remanded into police custody by the Criminal Division of the High Court in Accra.
The court, under the jurisdiction of Justice Kizita Naa Koowa Quarshie, directed that the suspects return to court on 14 May 2025.
Those remanded include Evans Atanga Agana, known as Old Man; Stephen Tuffour Bempah, alias Kofi Twum; Samuel Addai; Joseph Kofi Antwi (Kofi Antwi); Elizabeth Atambila; and Kennedy Akwasi Awimbora. The others are Waja Matthew, Naya Sampana, Janet Atanga, Beatrice Amponsah, Aishetu Gariba, and Grace Enyonam Amorkupor.
The group faces charges of operating a mining activity without the necessary license and causing environmental damage by polluting a water body.
According to prosecutors, the arrests stem from a targeted operation on April 18, 2025, conducted by officers from the National Police Headquarters in Accra.
Acting on instructions from the Inspector-General of Police, the team stormed illegal mining sites on the Tano and Subiri rivers near Samreboi in the Western Region. The accused were allegedly caught mining directly in the Tano River, which authorities say was visibly contaminated.
While several others escaped the scene, the twelve were apprehended and are currently being held pending further investigations. The court is expected to continue proceedings in mid-May.
