The Attorney General, Godfred Yeboah Dame, has revealed that over 140 cases of illegal mining, commonly known as galamsey, involving more than 850 accused individuals are currently being prosecuted across various regions in Ghana.
This disclosure was made during the 2024/2025 Annual General Conference of the Ghana Bar Association, held in Kumasi on Monday, September 9, 2024.
Speaking at the event, Mr Dame highlighted the ongoing efforts to combat the devastating effects of illegal mining on the country's forests and water bodies.
Despite the challenges faced by prosecutors in court, he noted some success in bringing offenders to justice.
Dame further emphasised that the government remains committed to intensifying the fight against illegal mining, with several cases nearing conclusion in the Western, Eastern, Ashanti, Greater Accra, and Upper East regions. "Illegal mining, galamsey, continues to cause damage to our forest reserves and water bodies.
In the teeth of the difficulties prosecutors encounter in the courts in the prosecution of illegal mining offences, the criminal division has enjoyed some success, even though there is still room for more to be done. "From August 2021 till date, at least 76 persons including 18 foreigners have been convicted.
They include the acclaimed Chinese galamsey queen, Aisha Huang who was convicted on December 4, 2023, of 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 for a minimum of 15 years plus a hefty fine for non-Ghanaians.
A minimum of 15 years plus a heavy fine in the case of a non-Ghanaian and a minimum of 20 years plus a fine for a non-Ghanaian.
Currently, over 140 cases of illegal mining involving over 850 accused persons are being prosecuted in court in the Western, Eastern, Ashanti, Greater and Upper East regions of Ghana.
Some are near conclusion," he stated.