Minister of Justice and Attorney-General (AG), Godfred Yeboah Dame has disclosed that seventy-six individuals including eighteen foreign nationals have been jailed for engaging in illegal mining activities since August 2021.

Speaking at this year’s Bar Conference in Kumasi, Mr. Dame averred that the convictions included long-term prison sentences coupled with huge fines.

“From August 2021 to date, at least 76 persons including 18 foreigners have been convicted. They include the acclaimed Chinese galamsey queen, Ayisha Huan who was convicted on 4th December, 2023 on offences committed between 2014 and 2016 in the era of the previous government.

“Most of the convicts were sentenced under the new law, Act 995 to a minimum of 15 years plus a hefty fine for a non-Ghanaian. Currently, over 140 cases of illegal mining involving over 850 Ghanaians are being prosecuted in courts in the Western, Eastern, Ashanti, Greater and Upper East Regions of Ghana,” the AG said.

The Attorney General was referring to the Minerals and Mining Act 2019 which stiffens the penalty for persons who engaged in illegal mining with special emphasis on foreigners.