The Assin Kyekyewere Circuit Court, presided over by His Lordship Emmanuel Amo-Yartey, has remanded eight individuals into police custody for two weeks for allegedly engaging in illegal mining activities at Diaso in the Upper Denkyira West District of the Central Region.
The accused—Francis Adumaya, Edward Arthur, Kwame Joe, Isaac Donkor, David Okyere, John Asante, and Maxwell Apambilla—are facing charges of mining without a license. They are scheduled to reappear before the court on June 15, 2025.
According to the prosecutor, Chief Inspector Abagna Anyongo, the accused were apprehended following a tip-off received by officers at the Central North Regional Police Headquarters in Assin Fosu. A team led by Regional Commander DCOP Abraham Acquaye swiftly responded and found the suspects actively engaged in mining operations without the requisite licenses.
Seven individuals were arrested at the scene, and two pumping machines used in the mining activities were seized. A short distance away, the eighth suspect was found operating an excavator and was also arrested. All suspects were then taken to the Regional Headquarters in Assin Fosu for further investigation.
During the investigation, it was noted that on May 31, 2025, the third accused, Kwame Joe, experienced a deterioration in his health and was granted police inquiry bail, with instructions to report back on June 2, 2025. However, he failed to appear as directed.
The seized pumping machines remain in police custody as evidence.
