Galamsey kingpin remanded by Takoradi Circuit Court

Suspect Richard Nana Ansah has been remanded into police custody by the Takoradi Circuit Court A and is to reappear before the court on the 21st of February 2023.

He was charged with mining gold without a license from authorities mandated to give such permits.

His Worship Michael Kwodjoe Ampadu, the Presiding Judge of the Takoradi Habour Circuit court A, however, remanded suspect Richard Nana Ansah the alleged Galamsey Kingpin who was arrested by the Asafo group of Agona Banso over the weekend into police custody after his charge was read out to him pending further investigations from the police.

On Saturday 21st January 2023, there was news that the Upper Dixcove Traditional Council had arrested a Galamsey Kingpin now identified as Richard Nana Ansah at Ahanta Banso in the Ahanta West Municipality.

Nananom, led by the Asafo Group on Monday converged at the Agona Nkwanta Police Station demanding immediate prosecution of the suspect and also called for the arrest and prosecution of whoever gave the permit or authority to the galamsey operator as well as the confiscation of the earth moving machines and other equipment used in the illegal activities.

They told Skyy News’ Patrick Ennimil Arthur that they want the illegal miners to reclaim and restore the destroyed farmlands and water bodies, and also pay adequate compensation to the affected farmers in the area they operated.

Meanwhile, Nana Emu Agyemang VIII, chief of Kwesikrom in the Ahanta West District of the Western Region has sent a strong warning to some Chiefs who have given out their lands to illegal miners in the area to stop and call the galamsey operators to order their operations are destroying their land and river bodies.

Nana Emu Agyemang hinted that if the government can not stop these illegal activities they will and that henceforth anyone (galamseyers) caught in the act of mining illegally on their land will be dealt with.

Source: Patrick Ennimil Arthur