The Nkawie Circuit Court in the Atwima Mponua District of Ashanti Region, has sentenced two farmers who engaged in illegal mining in the Jimira Forest Reserve, near Nyinahin, to two years imprisonment each, in hard labour.
Duut Yusifu and Moses Tiidabe, the convicts, pleaded guilty to unlawful entry, causing damage and involvement in illegal mining in a forest reserve.
They were convicted on their own pleas.
Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Sylvanus Dalmeida told the court presided by Mr Michael Johnson Abbey that, the accused were arrested when they were caught in the process of prospecting for gold in a portion of the forest reserve, without authority.
The court heard that the convicts were using pick axes, shovels, a cutlass and a gold detector machine, in prospecting for gold in the reserve.
DCP Dalmeida said where the illegal mining took place had been given to a private developer for teak plantation under a Private Public Partnerships (PPP) programme.
He said on November 20, this year, two workers of the company spotted the two and informed the Range Manager of the reserve about the incident.
DSP Damelda said they were arrested by some witnesses and handed over to the Nkawie Police.
According to the prosecution, the convicts admitted the offence in their cautioned statement, and charged after investigations.
