Alleged National Security “galamseyers” remanded for 8 June court sitting
19 alleged National Security agents who entered the Akenteng Forest Reserve in the Eastern Region to mine for gold have been remanded into police custody
Nineteen alleged National Security operatives who reportedly entered the Akenteng Forest Reserve in the West Akyem Municipality of the Eastern Region to mine for gold have been remanded into police custody to reappear in court on Tuesday 8 June 2021.
Also on remand is the former personal assistant to the National Security co-ordinator, ex-Flight Sergeant George Asante, who is alleged to have provided logistics to the 19 individuals to carry out their enterprise.
On 4 May 2021, the 19 suspected illegal miners, who were posing as personnel of the Ministry of National Security under the supposed instruction and leadership of ex-Flight Sergeant George Asante, were arrested and allegedly manhandled by the chiefs and people of Akenteng.
Local people accused the suspects of attempting to engage in unauthorised mining in the Akenteng Forest Reserve.
There were two groups of suspects – one team from Kumasi and another from Kasoa. The Kumasi team was led by Yakubu Muhammed (alias Jordan 1) and the Kasoa contingent was led by one Ben Lord Ababio.
In response to a tip-off, the Eastern Regional Police Command saved the miners from being lynched by the angry local people and arrested the suspects.
They were then taken to the Ministry of National Security for interrogation.
Charges proffered
After their interrogation the suspects were arraigned before the Koforidua Circuit Court, presided over by Judge Mercy Quartey, on 11 May 2021.
They have been charged on two counts.
The first charge is conspiracy to commit crime, to wit, the men are said to have conducted reconnaissance of mines without lawful authority, contrary to Section 23(1) of the Criminal Offences Act 1960 (Act 29) and Section 106(a) of the Minerals and Mining Act 2006 (Act 703).
Second, they are accused of conducting reconnaissance of mines without lawful authority, contrary to Section 106(a) of the Minerals and Mining Act 2006 (Act 703).
Court hearing
During the court sitting on Monday 24 May, police prosecutors requested the court to remand the accused men into police custody for two further weeks, as required by law, pending completion of the investigations by the security agencies.
The court, presided over by Justice Mercy Quartey, obliged the prosecutors and remanded the 19 accused until 8 June 2021.
The accused
The accused men in the Kumasi team are Yakubu Muhammed, Samuel Kofi Edusei, Derrick Adu Kwakye, Yaw Opoku, Kwaku Frimpong, Alfred Kyei and Paul Osei Kufuor.
The Kasoa team comprised Ben Lord Ababio, Richard Nartey, Eric Adei, Stephen Kofi Felan, Razak Suleiman, Dominic Beblie, Michael Quansah, Robert Martey Tetteh, Dominic Ghansah, Joseph Oduro-Asare, Munkaila Attah Stephen Opoku and Silas Boakye Gyan.
Items retrieved
At the time of arrest, the security services retrieved several weapons from the suspects.
They include four pump-action guns, one pistol, one assault rifle, 12 radio handsets, six cartridges, ten rounds of ammunition for the pistols, four shovels and one pickaxe.
Wilberforce Asare
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