Illegal miners fined for beating up policemen

Two illegal miners, popularly known as ‘galamsey’ operators, Kwame Badu, 22 and Osei Kwadwo, 27, were on Thursday fined a total of GH¢1,680.00 by a circuit court in Cape Coast for assaulting two police officers at Twifo Praso in the Central Region.

Badu pleaded not guilty to one count of abatement of crime whilst Osei also pleaded not guilty to two counts of assault on police officer and causing harm.

Badu was fined GH¢840.00 on count one or in default 12months imprisonment, whilst Osei was also fined GH¢840.00 each on the second and third counts to run concurrently or in default 12months imprisonment

Osei was also ordered to compensate the victims with GH¢600.00

Chief Inspector Francis Ockom told the court presided over by Mrs. Florence Kai Otu that on December 12, 2010, the Twifo Praso police arrested some illegal miners with their machines with which they operated near the Twifo Praso Bridge.

He said on December 13, 2010, Badu and Osei, who worked with those who had earlier been arrested, went to a police rented quarters and together with five others who are now at large, attacked Mr. Isaac Nyamekye and Ghansah Yaw Adei, both police officers without any provocation.

He said they attacked them with stones and clubs and in the process, Mr. Nyamekye had a deep cut at the side of his left eyebrow.**