Chief Justice designates Courts to deal with mining offences                  

The chief Justice has designated seven (7) High Courts and seven circuit courts located in Accra, Sekondi, Kumasi, Cape Coast, Koforidua, Sunyani and Bolgatanga to support the fight against galamsey.
 
The High courts will deal with all mining offences committed under the Minerals and Mining Act, (Act 703) while the Circuit courts will deal with all offences created under the Minerals and Mining (Amendment) Act 2015 (Act 900) and shall exercise concurrent jurisdiction with the High Court. 

This was contained in a statement signed by the   judicial secretary Justice Alex B. Poku-Acheampong.
 
The High Courts include court 4, Criminal Division in the Greater Accra Region, High Court ‘2’, Cape Coast in the Central Region ,  High Court ‘2’, Sekondi  in the Western Region and High Court ‘5’, Kumasi in the Ashanti Region. 

The Circuit courts also include the Bolgatanga  Circuit Court in the  Upper East Region, the Sunyani Circuit Court in Brong Ahafo, Koforidua Circuit Court B in the Eastern region ,Circuit Court ‘2’, Adum, Kumasi in the Ashanti region and  Circuit Court ‘A’, Harbour Area, Takoradi in the Western Region.
 
It says the 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.

It says 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. 
 
GBC