DCE for Atiwa East, Ernest Ntim Owusu, cited as a notorious and reckless “galamsey” operator – court documents reveal
Galamsey activities by Ernest and his team have created several dangerous uncovered pits on land in Atiwa East
Ernest Owusu Ntim, the district chief executive (DCE) for Atiwa East in the Eastern Region, has been sued along with others at the Koforidua High Court (suit number EAS/KF/HC/E1/151/2025) for engaging in illegal mining (commonly known as “galamsey”) on land situated in Atiwa East.
According to the writ of summons seen by Asaase News, Ernest Ntim invaded the land with his galamsey workers without the consent and authorisation of the landowner, and ruthlessly engaged in illegal mining activities, destroying land and a water body.
The suit says that Ernest and his team recklessly graded and removed topsoil, dug holes and created several heaps of soil which were carted from one part of the land to the other, destroying almost all of the crops on the land in the process.
The galamsey activities of Ernest and his team have created several dangerous uncovered pits on the land.
Impunity
When confronted, Ernest and a team member admitted to the wrongdoing and promised to remove his equipment.
He also said he would instruct his workers to vacate the land, but failed to do so. And the galamsey activities persisted.
Ernest and his workers are said to have boasted openly that even the Government of Ghana is afraid to clamp down on their activities and to have alleged that no one can stop them from engaging in galamsey, not even the courts.
Pollution of river body
According to the court papers, not only are Ernest and his team destroying the land, they have also, by their reckless galamsey operations, destroyed a small local river, popularly known as the Koben River, which lies between Ankaase Gyedam and Asaman Tamfoe.
The river provides drinking water for Ankaase Gyedam, Asaman Tamfoe and other communities.
The court statement says that Ernest and his team have installed a water-pumping machine on the riverbed and placed a long water hose in the river. They use the pumping machine and hose to draw water from the river and add harmful chemicals to it to wash the piles of soil they have graded or dug from the land.
They have also dug a long ditch from the galamsey soil washing point to the river. This ditch serves as a drain, along which the harmful wastewater from their chemical-riddled soil washing runs back to the river.
The extent of destruction of the land, according to the court papers, is life-threatening. This is because Ernest and his team have created many deep pits that they have left uncovered.
They have also polluted the river with the chemicals and the mud, which they channel back to the river after washing the soil.
The court has fixed the case for Monday (12 May 2025) to hear an injunction application against Ernest Ntim Owusu and the other defendants.
Click on the link to read the writ of summons and the statement of claim filed in court:
Writ of Summons & Statement of Claim
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