Twifo Atti-Morkwa Paramount Chief, two others in court over galamsey

A Ghanian Paramount Chief, Oseadeayo Kwasi Kenin IV, and three others are facing court action over alleged illegal mining activities on a licensed concession.

The defendants named in the suit are Oseadeayo Kwasi Kenin IV, Paramount Chief of Twifo Atti-Morkwa, his linguist Okyeame Yaw Asamoah, Ernest Ahorlu, and Wu Ming Ji, a Chinese national.

Kadesh Mining Enterprise, the concession holder, claims the defendants destroyed over 85% of its 14.73-acre mining area in Twifo Atti-Morkwa, Central Region.

85% of the concession is allegedly destroyed

The company was granted a five-year small-scale mining license on June 11, 2024.

The case, filed at the Kumasi High Court, has seen two appearances so far. On September 24, 2024, the Paramount Chief was absent, while Asamoah and Ahorlu appeared. 

Kadesh Mining seeks GH¢15 million in gold mined by the defendants and GH¢20 million in general damages. Counsel for the plaintiff, Hansen Kwadwo Koduah, views this case as part of Ghana's broader efforts to combat illegal mining.

Court documents indicate that the paramount chief admitted electronically to the illegal mining activities, which have caused significant financial losses to Kadesh Mining.

“The first defendant is the Paramount Chief of Twifo Atti-Morkwa Traditional Area, while the other defendants are his mining partners, who are Ghanaians, except for the third defendant, who is a Chinese national,” reads part of the plaintiff’s claim.

The writ further states, “A declaration that the defendants, having illegally and unlawfully trespassed onto the Plaintiff’s mining concession without consent or authority under Small Scale Mining License No. LVD/CR/1750/2024 dated June 11, 2024, and having mined approximately 85% of the entire 14.73 acres, caused commercial disadvantage and economic loss to the Plaintiff.”

The trial judge, His Lordship Samuel Faraday Johnson, has verbally ordered the Omanhene and his assigns to stay off the disputed land until the final determination of an interlocutory injunction filed by the plaintiff.

The case has been adjourned to October 14, 2024.

Source : Lead News Online