Two illegal miners who were caught prospecting for gold on the concession of Goldfields Ghana Limited (GGL), Tarkwa Mine, have been fined a total of GH₵1,420 by the Tarkwa Circuit Court.
Kofi Awuni, a 23-year-old mechanic and Emmanuel Boadu, a 32-year-old welder, pleaded guilty and in default would serve a total of 36 months imprisonment.
Prosecuting, Police Chief Inspector Oscar Amponsah told the court, presided by Mr Justice Obeng Asante that the complainants are security officers of GGL, Tarkwa Mine.
He said at about 01032 hours, on December 23 last year, the security officers of the company were on their normal rounds patrol duty when they spotted the accused persons and two others at large engaging in illegal mining.
Chief Inspector Amponsah said on seeing the security personnel, the accused persons and their accomplices took to their heels but they managed to arrest Awuni and Boadi who had in their possession a shovel, a cutlass and one sack of sand suspected to be bearing gold.
He said the convicts were handed to the police together with the exhibits found on them.
Chief Inspector Amponsah said the exhibits was sent to the GGL laboratory at Tarkwa and the assay report indicated that the sand had the gold content of 0.04g valued at GH₵ 4,832.
Passing sentence, Mr Justice Asante ordered that the gold should be sold and the proceeds paid into the chest of the state.
Latest Stories
-
‘Baseless and Unfounded’ – Ministerial Committee refutes NPP Chair’s allegations of bribery in labour strike talks
3 mins -
EC approves 13 presidential aspirants for 2024 elections
7 mins -
Academic City empowers GES STEM teachers on AI
20 mins -
Akufo-Addo leads final funeral rites of Joe Lartey Sr
26 mins -
I only scored important goals – Michael Essien
49 mins -
Deaths of patients with pre-eclampsia left me scared that I could die from it – Nurse
53 mins -
Nathaniel Attoh: Learning at the feet of a legend – Ode to Joe Lartey
56 mins -
Africa Remittance Conference UK scheduled for September 21, 2024
1 hour -
Health Ministry to roll out major herbal medicines onto NHIS
1 hour -
Inflation to ease to 19% in September 2024
1 hour -
‘Fix the country member’ discharged -Barker-Vormawor
1 hour -
Policy rate to go down between 1.0% and 1.5% – Report
1 hour -
Citizens may revolt against the extremely partisan Parliament that has failed to deliver – Bagbin warns
2 hours -
Nii Lante Vanderpuye: Joe Lartey Sr had a voice that held the nation spellbound
2 hours -
Equip yourselves with necessary tools before entering corporate world – Orient Property MD to graduates
2 hours