Tarkwa: 18-Year-Old Miner Sentenced to 10 Years for Stealing Mining Equipment

An 18-year-old small-scale miner, Mohammed Razak, has been sentenced to 10 years in prison with hard labor by the Tarkwa Circuit Court for stealing mining equipment valued at GH¢11,990. This is Razak’s second conviction for a similar offense within a short period.

The court, presided over by Mrs. Hathia Ama Manu, heard that the complainant, Thomas Tetteh, a small-scale miner from Wassa Japa in the Wassa Amenfi East constituency, owned a mining site where he had temporarily halted operations due to a water shortage. Tetteh dismantled and stored his mining equipment on-site, intending to move it to a safer location later.

However, upon returning the next day, Tetteh discovered that his Changfa diesel engine, worth GH¢8,000, a pumping machine valued at GH¢1,700, and a crusher worth GH¢3,700 had been stolen.

Tetteh made inquiries within the Wassa Japa community, which eventually led to Razak’s arrest. Razak was handed over to the Wassa Akropong police station, where he was charged and later confessed to the crime in court.

The prosecutor, Chief Inspector Abraham Ayitey, presented the case, leading to Razak’s conviction and subsequent sentencing.