Ten suspects remanded over illegal mining near ECG high tension poles in Obuasi

The Obuasi Circuit Court has remanded ten individuals into prison custody after their arrest for engaging in illegal mining activities beneath high tension poles belonging to the Electricity Company of Ghana.

The suspects were arrested on April 29, 2026, along the Asikasu Obuasi Highway in the Ashanti Region during a routine patrol by officers from the Jacobu District Police Command.

The accused, aged between 28 and 58, are Amadu Salifu, Obeng Emmanuel, Isaac Opoku, Madi Akurugu, Munkaila Konlan, Abdul Razak, Alex Owusu, Eric Agyei, Gordon Ampong and Kofi Opoku.

They appeared before the court presided over by His Honour Eric Danin, where all ten pleaded not guilty to charges of undertaking mining operations without a licence, contrary to Section 99(2A) of the Minerals and Mining Act.

Presenting the facts, Police Prosecutor Chief Inspector Godfred Salifu told the court that the patrol team encountered the suspects at about 3:20 PM on the day of the arrest.

He said the accused had already dug several trenches and were actively mining close to the critical power infrastructure.

The prosecution stressed the danger posed by the activity, explaining that excavations beneath the high tension poles threatened the stability of the pylons and could potentially lead to their collapse, resulting in a total power outage across the Obuasi and Amansie districts.

The prosecution subsequently prayed the court to remand the suspects to allow for the completion of investigations.

The court granted the request and remanded the ten into prison custody.

The case has been adjourned to May 6, 2026.