23 people were arrested in the Atewa forest reserve in the Eastern Region in four different operations during the Christmas break.
According to managers of the Forest, the accuse persons who are residents in the Atewa area strategically entered the Forest reserve during the Christmas break with the perception that forest guards and officials were on holidays.
Eastern regional Manager of the forestry commission Mr. Yaw Atuahene Nyako says the 23 people were arrested in different operations during the Yuletide.
According to him, the first 13 people arrested have been convicted by a Koforidua circuit court whiles the 10 are still facing trial.
He says, even though, some of the suspects absconded, they managed to arrest a number of them.
Today at the Koforidua Circuit A, six of the accused person appeared before the court with the charge or offence of conspiracy to commit crime to wit mining without license contrary to section 23(1) of Act 29/60 and 99(2) of the minerals and mining Act 2006.
The six namely Awudu Annia 41 years, Isahaku Yakubu 60yrs, Isaac Yaw Yeboah 41, Mustapha Seidu 44, Abubakari 40, Arthur Manfred 30 pleaded not guilty on both counts.
The court presided over by Her Honour Mercy Adei Kotei remanded them to prison custody to appear before the court on 31st January, 2018.
Eastern regional manager of the forestry commission Mr. Yaw Atuahene Nyako in an interview with Adom News’ Maxwell Kudekor refuted claims that, the entire Atewa forest is under siege.
He says his outfit is protecting the Atewa Forest from trespassers and illegal miners .
Source: Adom News/Maxwell Kudekor
