Galamsey: Atiwa East DCE denies jail reports, appeals contempt ruling

The Atiwa East District Chief Executive (DCE), Ernest Ntim, has filed an appeal against a contempt ruling by the Koforidua High Court 2, following his conviction over alleged involvement in illegal mining activities on protected land in the Eastern Region.

Speaking on Citi Ey on Monday, December 15, Mr Ntim confirmed that his legal team has formally applied for an appeal, describing the court’s decision as one he intends to challenge until all evidence is publicly examined.

According to the DCE, the court did not impose a custodial sentence but fined him and three others, a cost he said was shared among the four individuals.

He dismissed media reports suggesting he had been jailed, insisting such claims misrepresented the outcome of the case.

Mr Ntim said the appeal would focus on evidence allegedly linking him directly to the illegal mining site, particularly a video he claims has not been publicly played or subjected to proper scrutiny. He maintained that he was unfairly implicated and accused unnamed individuals of orchestrating the case against him.

The Atiwa East DCE further stated that he has, since his swearing-in, briefed senior government officials on what he described as coordinated attempts to undermine him, expressing confidence that  President  John Dramani Mahama would not take any administrative action without hearing his side of the story.

“I was asked to pay a fine, and we immediately applied for an appeal. I will follow up on this case until the video they claim shows me on the land is played for everyone to see. I was only fined. The GTV station that published the jail story was not in court. I do not think the President will act on calls for my removal without first listening to my side,” he said.

The Koforidua High Court 2 fined Ernest Ntim after finding him 15,000ghs in contempt of court for allegedly continuing illegal mining operations despite an injunction application pending before the court.

The court held that Mr Ntim and members of his team were responsible for environmental destruction, including damage to farmlands and pollution of the Koben River, a key water source for several communities.