Drop charges against Atronsu 5 and probe intimidation by police officers -anti-galamsey coalition to AG,IGP

A call for justice and accountability
In the face of growing environmental destruction caused by illegal mining, a coalition of citizens has stepped forward with a strong appeal to Ghana’s top legal and security authorities. Their petition is directed at Dominic Ayine, the Attorney General, and Christian Tetteh Yohunu, the Inspector General of Police (IGP).
The petition seeks two urgent outcomes: the immediate dropping of charges against a group of activists known as the Atronsu 5, and a formal investigation into what many perceive as a troubling pattern of intimidation and unequal treatment by some police officers toward citizens fighting illegal mining.

Commendation mixed with concern
Eco-Conscious Citizens and other concerned groups have been quick to acknowledge the efforts of the IGP, Christian Tetteh Yohunu. Since assuming office, he has demonstrated a visible commitment to tackling illegal mining, a crisis threatening Ghana’s environment and water bodies. However, this praise is tempered by growing concern. Reports from the ground suggest that while leadership pushes reform, some officers are undermining these efforts through actions that appear to target activists rather than offenders.

The story of the Atronsu 5
At the center of the petition is the case of the Atronsu 5—five men from Sefwi Atronsu in the Bibiani-Anhwiaso-Bekwai Municipality of the Western North Region. These individuals answered the call to be active citizens rather than passive observers in the fight against environmental destruction.

On November 8, 2024, during Farmers’ Day celebrations, they were arrested by Inspector Ampem Darko of the Awaso Police Station. The allegation: involvement in burning excavators used by illegal miners polluting their land and the Atronsu Stream—the community’s only source of drinking water. The accused, a teacher and an assemblyman, firmly deny all charges.

A justice system under question
What has alarmed many observers is not just the arrest, but the handling of the case. While illegal miners allegedly responsible for environmental destruction remain free, the Atronsu 5 were denied both police and court bail.
Despite assurances from Chief Superintendent Martin Eninghan, the activists spent five nights in custody at the Sefwi Bekwai Divisional Command. This occurred even though they posed no apparent flight risk.

Further raising concerns, the case has been adjourned five times due to incomplete police investigations. Critics argue that this pattern suggests the legal process is being used less for justice and more as a tool of intimidation—causing distress, financial burden, and disruption to the lives of the accused.

A pattern beyond Atronsu
The Atronsu case is not isolated. Similar incidents have been reported across the country:
In Assemkrom, ten individuals who carried out a citizen’s arrest of illegal miners were themselves arrested and charged, while the miners were released.
In Gwira Banso, youth who documented illegal mining activities in the Draw River Forest Reserve in June 2025 were detained by police, even as the perpetrators continued their operations in a Globally Significant Biodiversity Area.
These recurring incidents point to what many see as a systemic issue—where those defending their communities face legal consequences, while offenders evade accountability.

An existential threat
Illegal and irresponsible mining is not just an environmental issue—it is a national crisis. Rivers are polluted, forests destroyed, and livelihoods threatened. For many communities, access to clean drinking water is already compromised.

In such a context, citizens argue that law enforcement must clearly stand on the side of protection and justice. Any perception that the system is being used to suppress activism risks eroding public trust and weakening the broader fight against environmental degradation.

Renewed legal pressure
On July 31, 2025, the Atronsu case took another turn when police presented an amended charge sheet in court. This move has intensified calls for intervention.

Eco-Conscious Citizens and their allies are now formally urging Dominic Ayine to discontinue the case entirely, arguing that it serves no genuine legal purpose and instead functions as a deterrent to civic action.

The petition’s demands
The petition outlines two clear demands:
Immediate withdrawal of charges in the amended charge sheet (District Court, Sefwi Wiawso, Case No. B1/08/26), bringing an end to what petitioners describe as a campaign of intimidation against active citizens.

A formal inquiry by the IGP, Christian Tetteh Yohunu, into the conduct of police personnel involved in the Atronsu, Assemkrom, and Axim cases, with the aim of addressing alleged misconduct and restoring public confidence.

A call to collective action
The petition closes with a call to action: citizens are encouraged to add their signatures and stand in solidarity with those defending their communities.
At its core, this movement is about more than one case—it is about defining the role of ordinary citizens in safeguarding Ghana’s environment, and ensuring that justice supports, rather than suppresses, that effort.