Judiciary assigns three High Courts to hear galamsey cases

Supreme Court Justice Gabriel Scott Puamang has announced that the Judiciary has designated three High Courts to exclusively handle cases related to illegal mining, particularly those arising from the operations of the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS).

Justice Puamang made the disclosure at the Annual Chief Justice’s Mentoring Programme held on Wednesday, December 17. The programme seeks to inculcate justice-centred values in Senior High School students, inspire interest in careers within the judiciary, and prepare future custodians and interpreters of the law.

Speaking on the theme “Advocating Greener, Sustainable Justice: The Environment and Justice,” Justice Puamang reaffirmed the Judiciary’s strong resolve to confront illegal mining and its environmental consequences. He said the specialised courts are expected to become operational early next year.

“The leadership of Chief Justice Baffoe-Bonnie has already assigned three High Court judges, and their courts are being refurbished to specifically handle cases arising from NAIMOS and other related state matters, aimed at recovering state properties that have been lost,” he stated.

Also addressing the event, the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah, reiterated the government’s commitment to clamping down on illegal mining. He revealed that enhanced tracking of imported earth-moving equipment has led to more than 1,000 excavators currently being held by the Ministry as part of enforcement efforts.