Court sentences Togolese illegal miner to 18 years in prison

Shaibu Yaw, a Togolese national, caught engaging in illegal mining (galamsey) in Ghana, has reportedly been convicted by the Koforidua Circuit Court A.

According to a report by myjoyonline.com, the Circuit Court sentenced the Togolese national to a prison term of 18 years with hard labour.

Shaibu Yaw was arrested for his involvement in galamsey activities at Akyem Mouso in the Atewa West District of the Eastern Region.

He was sentenced by the court on Thursday, October 24, 2024, having pleaded guilty to illegal mining operations, and the charges of conspiracy to commit a crime related to illegal mining and engaging in mining without a valid license.

The report indicated that the court presided over by Her Lordship Abigail Animah Asare, a High Court judge, imposed the sentence in response to his admissions of guilt.

It added that in addition to the prison term, the court levied a fine of 10,000 penalty units for each count, resulting in a total financial penalty of 20,000 penalty units.

Meanwhile, the Minister of Justice and Attorney General, Godfred Dame, has indicated that 76 individuals, including 18 foreign nationals, have been jailed for engaging in illegal mining activities since August 2021.

Speaking at this year’s Bar Conference in Kumasi, 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.

BAI/AE

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