Court fines illegal mining operator GH¢12,000

A 30-year-old labourer, Gilbert Quarshie Amenuvor, was on Wednesday fined GH¢12,000 by a Cape Coast Circuit Court for practicing illegal mining at the beach at Elmina.

Amenuvor pleaded guilty and would go to prison for three years if he fails to pay the fine.

Chief Inspector Charles Anku told the court presided over by Mr. Ohemeng Mensah that on August 22, members of the Mining Task Force from the Inspectorates Division of Minerals Commission in Accra went on their usual patrols in Elmina.

He said when they reached Ayisa they spotted Amenuvor and some other small scale miners busily operating.

Chief Inspector Anku said the illegal miners on seeing the task force personnel took to their heels and they were pursued until Amenuvor was arrested and handed over to the police.

Source: GNA