Tarkwa: Twelve persons, who appeared before the Tarkwa Circuit Court for allegedly causing extensive damage to the railway track between Akyem and Bonsawire in the Western Region, have been granted bail. Each accused person had a bail set at GHS400,000, with three sureties each. They are being charged with conspiracy, undertaking mining operations without a license, and causing unlawful damage, and the court refused to accept their pleas.
According to Ghana News Agency, Prosecuting Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Samuel Ahiaboc informed the court, presided over by Mrs. Hathia Ama Manu, that the police had completed their investigation. A duplicate docket had been prepared and forwarded to the Attorney General's office at Sekondi for study and advice. The accused persons include Dennis Adom, a driver, Larri Koku, a farmer, Ali Asoma, unemployed, Nurudeen Kobina, a vulcanizer, and Jonathan Ayandor, a pastor. Others are Alex Kofi Acquah, Kwame Simon, Isaac Arhin, Lambon Moyisi, Jude Azumah, Yenderi Mombe, and Daniel Combat, all illegal miners.
ASP Ahiaboc stated that the complainant, Nathaniel Fiifi Henson, was the area manager of the Railways Company Limited at Tarkwa in the Tarkwa Nsuaem Municipality. On September 29, 2025, the complainant, accompanied by five witnesses who were workers of the company, made a routine visit to the railway track between Akyem and Bonsawire. They discovered that intruders had illegally mined various places under the old railway track, leading them to report the matter to the police.
On September 30, 2025, ASP De-Ben Edem Selassie, the Regional Operation Commander, led a team of police officers from the Western Central Police Command to the site and arrested the accused persons, who were illegally mining around the inactive old rail. During the operation, three pumping machines were retrieved, and several chanfan machines were destroyed.
On October 1, 2025, Mr. Mathias Yevugah, the Regional Crime Officer, along with the investigator and three of the accused persons, visited the crime scene. ASP Ahiaboc noted that on-the-spot investigation revealed that illegal mining under the railway track had caused significant damage, creating deep trenches and leaving the track in a precarious state. The case has been adjourned to November 24, 2025, for continuation.
