9 illegal miners jailed

Nine Illegal miners popularly known as galamsey operators have been sentenced to twelve months imprisonment in hard labour by the Kwabeng Magistrate court presided over by Isaac Amoah.

The convicts were sent to Koforidua prisons after they failed by pay a fine of GHc2,400.00 imposed on each of them.

Four water pumping machines which were retrieved from the convicts were also confiscated to the state.

The prosecution had earlier told the court that the nine were caught red-handed mining in the Atiwa Forest Reserve by the Rapid Response Team, a unit of the Forestry Services Division with the assistance of the staff of Atiwa branch of the Service.

The prosecution said the activities of the miners had destroyed a number of water bodies, trees and the entire environment.

The convicts are Vincent Koffie, Alivor Atsu, Amanu Yaw, Ayino Fofo and Samuel Darko. Others are Kwame Goli, Kwabena Banda, Kwasi Doh and Wusah Koffie.

They were initially remanded into prison custody for two weeks during their first appearance.

Meanwhile, officials from the Forestry Service Division who were sometimes worried about how offenders of such nature are leniently dealt with, have highly commended the police and the judiciary for helping to punish the culprit which would go a long way to deter others whose activities were destroying the forest and the environment in general.

The Eastern regional manager of the service, Attah Owusu, said the Atiwa forest reserve was very important to the country and needed to be protected and preserved by all and sundry.

He disclosed that three rivers, namely, Densu, Birim and Ayensu take their sources from the forest as well as some other streams.

Also, there are a number of endangered animals and birds in the forest which are being destroyed by illegal miners and chainsaw operators.

Apart from that, some foreigners have been using the forest in their researches which gives the country foreign exchange.

He, therefore, called on all to help protect and preserve the forest to enable the current and future generation to enjoy its benefit.

On his part, the Begoro district manager of the Service, Paul Akransi commended his personnel who organized the operation leading to the arrest of the miner, the police and the judiciary for the swift manner they all carried out their mandated jobs.

He warned the people to stay off the forest since anybody caught destroying it would not be spared, saying, the forest belongs to all Ghanaians.

The head of the service at Anyinam branch, Palmer Aikins Amponsah, said due to the serious nature the forest in the country, especially, the Atiwa forest, the service had trained some of the staff known as the Rapid Response Team to help check the degradation of the forest and the environment in general.

He urged chiefs, opinion and political leaders as well as the entire people of Ghana to help protect the environment for future generation.