The convener of the Media Coalition Against Galamsey, Ing. Kenneth Ashigbey, has strongly criticized a decision by a Magistrate in Enchi to release excavators that were impounded during an operation targeting illegal mining activities in the Western Region.

Ashigbey described the ruling, which allowed the return of confiscated equipment to the accused, as “bizarre” and a setback in Ghana’s ongoing battle against illegal mining, or galamsey, which has caused significant environmental damage and threatens the livelihoods of local communities.

The controversy arose after an operation on Sunday, March 23, when Wisdom Amuzu and three accomplices were arrested for illegal mining in the Boin River Forest Reserve, a protected area. The operation, carried out by officers from the Forestry Commission with assistance from the Enchi police, resulted in the seizure of two excavators used in the illegal mining activities.

However, in a surprising turn, Magistrate Lawrence Buenor Buer of the Enchi Magistrate Court ruled not only to grant bail to Amuzu and his associates but also ordered the Forestry Commission to permit Amuzu to remove the excavators and other confiscated equipment from the Forest Reserve. The decision has sparked widespread criticism, given the evidence of illegal activity and the potential damage to the environment.

Speaking on the Citi Breakfast Show on April 2, Ashigbey condemned the ruling, arguing that it contradicts Ghana’s Mining Act, which was specifically designed to combat illegal mining. He emphasized that the law prohibits the return of equipment seized in forest reserves, stating that the law clearly dictates that anyone arrested for illegal mining in such areas should face the full consequences without the discretion of a judge to return the confiscated equipment.

“The law is clear,” Ashigbey said. “Once you arrest someone in a forest reserve, there is no room for discretion. The judge should not have allowed the return of the seized equipment. This ruling is a direct contradiction of the Mining Act.”

The case has raised concerns among environmental advocates, who fear that the ruling could undermine efforts to curb illegal mining in Ghana.

Source:TheDotNews