The Enchi District Court in the Western North Region has overturned its previous ruling concerning the release of mining equipment seized from illegal miners operating within the Boin Forest Reserve. The court, led by His Worship Lawrence Buenor Buer, declared its initial order on March 28, 2025, to release two Liugong excavators and other mining equipment, as erroneous and outside its jurisdiction.
On April 2, 2025, the court issued a new directive, acknowledging that the prior ruling was “wrong in law” and lacked legal authority in matters involving illegal mining. This decision came after a review of the facts and the applicable mining laws.
The case involves six individuals accused of engaging in illegal mining activities, with four defendants currently absent and two still at large. The court’s initial decision to release the equipment had been met with concerns, as the equipment was part of an ongoing investigation into the illegal “galamsey” operations in the Boin Forest Reserve.
In its revised order, the court stated that the matter should be handled by the proper forum with jurisdiction over illegal mining activities. The equipment, including the two excavators, will now be seized and transferred to the Enchi Forestry Commission for safekeeping until further legal proceedings.
The court also tasked the police and Forestry Commission with locating and securing the equipment to ensure compliance with the revised order.
His Worship Buenor Buer emphasized the court’s authority to correct its own errors, citing legal precedents such as *Moshie v. Begyina* and *Attoh Quarshie v. Okpoti* to uphold the integrity of the judicial process.
