Chief Justice designates 14 “galamsey courts” to fight mining offences

georgina-theodora-woodThe Chief Justice has designated 14 courts (7 High Courts and 7 Circuit Courts) to deal with all mining offences committed under the Minerals and Mining Act, Act 703.

A statement issued by the Judicial Secretary, Justice Alex B. Poku-Acheampong said the designation of the courts by C.J. Georgina Wood, is in furtherance of “the recent groundswell of public revulsion and media and civil society advocacy against the menace of illegal mining, commonly referred to as “galamsey”.

“As an institution committed to the Rule of Law, we are prepared to lend our support to this renewed fight against illegal mining to stamp out the menace and thereby protect the country’s natural resources, particularly our water bodies, for the current and future generations,” the statement said.
 
“The Minerals and Mining (Amendment) Act, 2015 (Act 900) has introduced new offences which confer jurisdiction on the High Courts and Circuit Courts.

“The Hon. Lady Chief Justice has to this end designated seven (7) High Courts located in Accra, Sekondi, Kumasi, Cape Coast, Koforidua, Sunyani and Bolgatanga to deal with all mining offences committed under the Minerals and Mining Act, (Act 703). 

Seven (7) Circuit Courts have also been designated to deal with all offences created under the Minerals and Mining (Amendment) Act 2015 (Act 900) and shall exercise concurrent jurisdiction with the High Court. Judges who will be manning these courts will receive regular training to give them a better appreciation of the legal issues involved in illegal mining to enable them to handle cases efficiently in their courts and impose sentences commensurate with the offences.

“In the future, depending on the number of cases that will come up for trial, the Judiciary may increase the courts and number of Judges to ensure that the courts are not overwhelmed by the volume of work and that the cases are dealt with expeditiously,” said the statement.

Designated Courts

LOCATION HIGH COURTS CIRCUIT COURTS

Greater Accra Region High Court ‘4’, Criminal Division Circuit Court ‘1’, Accra
Central Region High Court ‘2’,          Cape Coast Circuit Court ‘1’, Cape Coast
Western Region High Court ‘2’,         Sekondi Circuit Court ‘A’, Harbour Area,Takoradi
Ashanti Region High Court ‘5’,          Kumasi Circuit Court ‘2’, Adum, Kumasi
Eastern Region High Court ‘3’,          Koforidua Circuit Court ‘B’, Koforidua
Brong-Ahafo Region High Court ‘2’,   Sunyani Circuit Court, Sunyani
Upper East Region High Court ‘1’,      Bolgatanga Circuit Court, Bolgatanga

 
 
 
 
-Daily Graphic

ABOUT: Nana Kwesi Coomson

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An Entrepreneur, Corporate Social Responsibility, Corporate Communications Executive and Philanthropist. Editor-in-Chief of www.233times.com. A Senior Journalist with Ghanaian Chronicle Newspaper. An alumnus of Adisadel College where he read General Arts. His first degree is in Bachelor of Arts - Political Science (major) and History (minor) from the University of Ghana. He holds MSc in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Energy with Public Relations (PR) from the Robert Gordon University in the United Kingdom. He is a 2018 Mandela Washington Fellow who studied at Clark Atlanta University in USA on the Business and Entrepreneurship track.

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