A recent ruling by a Magistrate in Enchi has sparked outrage, with Ing. Kenneth Ashigbey, Convener of the Media Coalition Against Galamsey, condemning the decision to release seized excavators to individuals involved in illegal mining activities.

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Mr Ashigbey described the ruling as "bizarre" and an "unfortunate step backward" in the fight against galamsey, which poses a significant threat to Ghana's environment, natural resources, and livelihoods.

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According to Ashigbey, the law clearly states that anyone arrested for illegal mining activities, especially within forest reserves, should face the full force of the law without the discretion of a judge to return confiscated equipment.

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"Once you have arrested someone in a forest reserve, you will have to take the person to court and the law takes away the judge's discretion…having the judge returning the seized equipment to the culprit, it is bizarre."

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The controversy surrounds the arrest of Wisdom Amuzu and three accomplices on March 23 for illegal mining in the Boin River Forest Reserve. Despite evidence of illegal activity and seized equipment, Magistrate Lawrence Buenor Buer directed the Forestry Commission to allow Amuzu to evacuate the excavators and other confiscated equipment from the Forest Reserve.

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Ashigbey emphasized that this ruling contradicts Ghana's Mining Act, designed to curb the destructive activities of illegal miners. This is not an isolated incident, as there have been previous cases of courts ordering the release of seized mining equipment

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