Eleven people are now serving jail terms ranging from five to fifteen years for unlawful mining in the Atewa Forest in the Eastern Region.
They were convicted by the Koforidua Circuit Court B after they were found guilty of unlawful mining in the Atewa Forest Reserve using the dig and wash method, which is against the law.
Mining is prohibited in forest reserves under the country's mining regulations.
The 11 defendants were among 55 people detained by Forestry Commission authorities in 16 separate operations in the Atewa Forest between January and April this year.
year. According to a document provided to the Daily Graphic by the Eastern Region Forestry Commission documenting the status report on the cases, all 44 defendants on remand failed to fulfill "strict bail requirements."
Long sentences
Three of the prisoners, Alhassan Lariba, Foster Boakye, and Kwaku Ampofo, who were captured at the Panang section of the Atewa Forest, were sentenced to 3,000 penalty units, equal to GH36,000 in addition to five years in jail, according to the progress report on the court proceedings.
In a separate instance, George Asare and Godwin Ahadzi, who were caught in the Atewa Forest's Asiakwa section, were penalized 10,000 penalty units, or GH120,000, or 15 years in jail.
Isaac Kofi and Yaw Boadi, who was apprehended in the Obourho section of the forest, were fined 10,000 penalty units and sentenced to 15 years in jail with hard labor.
Bismark Dompreh, Kwasi Samuel, and Kwadwo Baah, three more unlicensed miners, were sentenced to 15 years in prison and fined GH1,000 apiece on Thursday.
Arrests
The illegal miners were apprehended in the Atewa Forest in numerous areas, including Sagyimase, Pameng, Asiakwa, Ahwenease, Juaso, Obourho, Potroase, and Apenaman, according to the report.
The remaining 44 individuals were charged in ten different instances before the Koforidua Circuit Court B, according to the report. Concerns
The Daily Graphic published a series of pieces exposing the country's long-running illicit mining operations, raising worries about the havoc the canker was doing on land and water supplies.
Illegal mining has recently been reported in the Atewa Forest Reserve.
Last Thursday, the Daily Graphic inquired of the Eastern Region Forestry Commission about what was being done to bring the culprits to justice and put an end to the illegality.
Despite popular belief that illegal miners have always been handled with child gloves, the Daily Graphic discovered that some of the perpetrators have received severe fines and prison terms.
Excellent decision.
Kwabena Poku Bosompim, the Forestry Commission's Eastern Regional Manager, said the speed with which the court dealt with the cases gave the commission hope that unlawful mining in forest reserves would be greatly decreased.
"I must applaud the court for moving quickly to prosecute these cases. He stated, "We are quite confident about the success of the remaining 44 instances."
Mr. Bosompim stated that the crew recovered 16 pumping equipment, four chainsaw machines, two monkey jacks, and two locally built weapons during the 16 operations carried out in the Atewa Forest Reserve.
The manager of the Eastern Regional Forestry Commission said that officials would continue to pursue any obstinate illicit miners who were damaging the forest reserves.
"We will remain vigilant and closely monitor the operations of these illicit miners who dig and wash in forest areas primarily at night." Mr. Bosompim remarked, "We have reduced it to the very minimum, but our goal is to fully stop it."
Emmanuel Antwi, the Kyebi Forest District Manager, said procedures had been put in place to prevent unscrupulous people from unlawfully mining in the Atewa Forest.