Five ‘galamseyers’ jailed 125 years for mining in River Ankobra

Five illegal miners, known locally as “galamseyers,” who were discovered mining in the Ankobra river without permission have received a combined sentence of 125 years of hard labor.

In regards to criminal conspiracy and engaging in small-scale mining without authorization, Richard Kumasi, Fiamahe Jerry John, Korblavi Kumasi, Daniel Afenu, and Matthew Gedie entered a not guilty plea.

All five of the defendants were found guilty of the accusations brought against them after a trial by the Hathia Ama Manu-presiding court.

Each of them received a five-year jail term on count one, and on count two, they each received a fine of GH120,000 or, in default, a five-year prison sentence plus 20 years of hard labor. The phrases must flow together.

The complainant is Nana Yaw Baako, an Assemblyman from the Himan Electoral Area, according to Kingsley Agyekum, the assistant state attorney in charge of the prosecution in the Western Region. The accused are illegal miners who live in the Ankobra neighborhood of the Prestea Huni-Valley Municipality.

The complainant and five opinion leaders had knowledge that the accused were using a dredge equipment to prospect for gold in the Ankobra river on August 17, 2021, about 3:00 p.m.

Based on the tip-off, they traveled to the Prestea Huni-Valley Municipality’s Kpoviadzi hamlet, where they encountered the five people who were employed.

They were all detained, according to Mr. Agyekum, and turned over to Prestea police for use in their investigation while the dredging equipment was set ablaze.

Before the trial, the five defendants were granted bail as requested by their attorney, Augustine Arvoh-Mensah.