The Tarkwa Circuit Court has remanded 12 persons into prison custody for causing extensive damage to the railway track between Akyem and Bonsawere in the Western Region.
They are Dennis Adom, driver, Larri Koku, farmer, Ali Asoma, unemployed, Nurudeen Kobina, vulcaniser, and Jonathan Ayandor, a Pastor.
The rest are Alex Kofi Acquah, Kwame Simon, Isaac Arhin, Lambon Moyisi, Jude Azumah, Yenderi Mombe, and Daniel Combat, all Illegal miners.
They are currently being charged with conspiracy, undertaking mining operations without a license, and causing unlawful damage, but their pleas have not been taken as the investigation is still underway.
They will reappear before the court on October 22, 2025.
Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Samuel Ahiaboc, prosecuting, told the court presided over by Mrs. Hathia Ama Manu that the complainant, Nathaniel Fiifi Henson, was the area manager of Railways Company Limited, Tarkwa.
He said on September 29, 2025, the complainant, accompanied by five witnesses in the case who were workers of the company, made a routine visit to the railway track between Akyem and Bonsawire.
ASP Ahiaboc said that after the complainant and the witnesses had walked about four kilometres, they discovered that some intruders had illegally mined various places under the old railway track, and they reported the matter to the Police.
Prosecution said on September 30, 2025, a team of Policemen within the Western Central Police Command, led by ASP De-Ben Edem Selassie, the Regional Operation Commander, carried out an operation and arrested the accused persons who were illegally mining around the inactive old rail.
He said during the operation, three pumping machines were retrieved, while several chanfang machines were also destroyed.
ASP Ahiaboc informed the court that on October 1, 2025, Mr Mathias Yevugah, the Regional Crime Officer, in the company of the investigator, together with some of the accused persons, Dennis Adom, Alex Kofi Acquah and Jonathan Ayandor, visited the crime scene.
He said 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.
