A notorious galamsey “queen” arrested in Kwame-Antokrom, a community near Enchi – Dadiesoaba in Suaman District in the Western North Region will reappear in Juaboso Court today Tuesday October 18, 2022.
The suspect, Mawusi Azumah, was arrested for engaging in illegal mining in the area for years with support from her conspirators.
She recruits desperate unemployed youth from Volta Region and Togo to work for her. She currently have more than 20 illegal miners working for her in the area.
The Galamsey Queen Mawusi Azumah, about 38 years of age was accused in 2017 for inciting violent attack on anti-galamsey taskforce which led to destruction of two vehicles. She however went into hiding .
On September 8, 2022, a former constituency women’s organizer of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) Constance Ampong observed the suspect Mawusi Azumah and her accomplices were seriously mining in Bia river with changfai machine and also destroying family cocoa farm.
She reported the development to the District Chief Executive of the area, Philip Kwabena Boahene, however, the DCE allegedly told her to rather negotiate and take compensation from her.
Constance Ampofo said she mobilized some people to storm the house of the illegal miner to warn her stay away from their cocoa farms.
She subsequently reported the case to Police.
However, the illegal miner later went to the police station to lodge complaint against the complainant for storming her house to threaten her.
The police commander Superintendent Bernard Yaw Akotoge rather ordered for the arrest of the illegal miner based on the initial case leveled against her.
She was arraigned and remanded one week to reappear on Tuesday 18th October, 2022.
The complainant however fears for her life should the suspect be released.
The District Chief Executive for Suaman Philip Kwabena Boahen, when contacted by Kojo Ansah, a journalist who disguised as brother of the accused to solicit support from the DCE to help pay bribe set the accused illegal miner free, the DCE did not show disapproval of such moves rather said should contact one Ajara who he said has made headway on the matter.
Ajara is one of the conspirators. She deals in mining equipment in Dadiesoaba community.
She allegedly supplies the accused Mawusi Azumah mining equipment including chanfai machines .
Superintendent of Police Bernard Yaw Akotoge ,Suaman District Police Commander said there hasn’t been any interference in the prosecution of the accused persons.
Residents are angry that river Bia is being destroyed.
Source: Mybrytnewsroom.com
