Court grants 22 illegal miners bail

Kumasi, Oct. 11, GNA - A Kumasi Circuit Court on Tuesday granted bail to 22 illegal gold miners to the tune of GH¢8,000.00 each with a surety. They were arrested in a joint military-police operation in the Subriso Nfante Forest Reserve, and have been on remand since September 19. The accused face charges of illegal mining and removing forest products without permission from competent forest authority. They however denied the offence and would re-appear on Monday, October= 24.

Police Chief Inspector Martin Assenso told the court presided over by Justice William Boampong that they were caught mining right inside the reserve without license and some equipment they were using was seized. These included water pumping machines, electric generators, satellite dish and motor bike. Police Chief Inspector Assenso said they had destroyed large tracts of the reserve, cutting down the trees. Counsel for the accused, Mr John Akparibo, had earlier pleaded with the court to grant his clients bail to allow for their proper screening, saying, not all of them were involved in the alleged illegal mining.