The Koforidua High Court 2 has fined the District Chief Executive (DCE) of Atiwa East in the Eastern Region, Ernest Ntim, GH₵12,000 for contempt of court in an ongoing illegal mining (galamsey) case.

The contempt application was filed in May 2025 by a miner who is in a dispute with the DCE over a parcel of land where mining activities were taking place.

According to the applicant, although the court had restrained both parties from entering the disputed land, the DCE allegedly went onto the land, prompting the contempt proceedings.

Background

The injunction application sought to restrain the DCE and other persons from entering the land, which is the subject of a substantive suit pending before the court. It further barred them from grading or removing soil, digging pits or ditches, engaging in any form of mining activity, or dealing with the land in any manner whatsoever.

Despite the matter being sub judice, the applicant alleges that the DCE, his brothers, and another person—described in the application as illegal miners within the Atiwa East District—re-entered the land and continued galamsey operations.

Court documents state that on May 2, 2025, one of the DCE’s brothers, was confronted at the site and reportedly claimed that “his brother (now DCE) had been nominated for the position of DCE for Atiwa East, and on his confirmation, no one, not even the courts could interfere with their activities, and further that even judges will become the subordinates of the DCE.”

The affidavit in support of the application argues that the conduct of the DCE and the other respondents was willful and deliberate, constituting contempt of court and an interference with the administration of justice intended to undermine the authority of the court.

According to the applicant, a complaint was lodged with the Eastern South Regional Police Command at Kyebi on May 2, 2025, while the matter was still pending before the court. The police subsequently effected arrests at the galamsey site.

The application further alleges that after the arrests, the DCE confronted the applicant, stating that those arrested were his workers and warning that if the complaint was not withdrawn and he was later confirmed as DCE, he would change the ownership of the land and claim it as his own.

The applicant also alleges that the DCE confirmed his brother’s assertion that “even the judges would become his subordinates” upon his confirmation, and advised the applicant to allow him to mine quietly.

After several adjournments, the court delivered its ruling on Monday, December 15, finding the DCE in contempt and imposing a fine of GH₵12,000.

The substantive land and mining case remains pending before the court, with hearings expected to continue.