The accused, who have had their pleas taken, include Evans Atanga Agana, a motor mechanic; Stephen Tuffour Bempah, a trader; Samuel Addai, a driver; Joseph Antwi, a motor rider; Elijah Atambilla, a mason; and Kennedy Akwasi Awimbora, a student.

The others are Waja Matthew, a farmer; Naya Sampana, a butcher; Janet Atanga, Beatrice Amponsah, Aishetu Gariba, and Grace Enyomam Amorkupor, all traders.

Presiding judge, Justice Kizita Naa Koowa Quarshie, remanded the suspects into custody until May 14, 2025.

Their arrest was carried out by police personnel from the National Headquarters in Accra, acting under the directive of the Inspector General of Police to clamp down on illegal mining operations.

The suspects were apprehended during an operation on April 18, 2025, along the Tano and Subiri Rivers near Samreboi.

According to the prosecution, police officers observed brownish, contaminated water in the areas where the suspects were allegedly mining.

Investigations are ongoing, and efforts are being made to apprehend additional accomplices.

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The victim has been identified as Philip Asante, a driver at the Western North Regional Coordinating Council.

The cause of his demise is unclear, however, the Assemblyman for Nsawora electoral area, Emmanuel Adu Amankrah, confirmed it to Adom News.

He narrated that the deceased told his wife he was attending a nature’s call, later he called the wife to inform her to take care of the children and never should the family search for him again.

The deceased wife couldn’t keep the message to herself and informed opinion leaders in the community and a search was mounted for her husband.

Three days after, Mr Asante was found dead in the river Tano.

The police were informed and subsequently conveyed the body from the river with support from the community folks.

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Due to the state of the body, the family preferred to bury it after being taken from the river.

The distraught wife, Christiana Asante, said they have children and the last one is now getting to three years, hence does not how she will single-handedly cater for them.

The incident, according to reports, occurred on Thursday afternoon.

It is unclear how he ended up in the river.

But the Assemblyman for the area, Ecas, who confirmed the incident on Adom FM’s Naket Kasiebo said the victim, according to witnesses, appeared drunk.

He explained all attempts to find the body proved futile despite a libation poured by traditional authorities to pave way for the search.

“We couldn’t find the body but had to stop the search because nobody is allowed at the river by 6:00 pm,” he said.

He said that wasn’t the first time someone had drowned in the river, stating it has taken three to four days for a body to be found after a similar incident some time ago.

He has, however, expressed confidence the body will be found for the identity of the person to be established when the search continues on Friday.

Inhabitants, drivers and passengers, who use the bridge, have expressed dissatisfaction with the deplorable state of the bridge fences.

According to the Chief of Nsawora-Edumafa community, Nana Kwaku Aduhene, the bridge was built for the community when it was inhabited by few residents, but after the demarcation of the district, other communities have been added to their zone.

Consequently, the lone bridge has become a central route, which has caused it to wear away over time.

According to the chief, several reports have been made to the local authorities, but their cries have been disregarded, a situation he suspects is as a result of the zero casualties recorded.

Speaking to Adom News’ Augustine Boah, some residents disclosed a car plunged into the river two weeks ago, and all efforts to retrieve it has proved futile.

That notwithstanding, they listed a private car, trailers and articulators as part of the vehicles that have suffered similar fate.