Tarkwa Illegal Miner Sentenced to 18 Years for Assaulting Friend

In a ruling by the Tarkwa Circuit Court, Akwasi Isaac, a 22-year-old illegal miner, has been sentenced to 18 years of hard labor after being found guilty of inflicting severe harm on his friend, Kwaku Yeboah. Isaac, widely known as “Akwasman,” pleaded not guilty but was ultimately convicted of the offense.

The prosecution, led by Police Chief Inspector Joseph Lartey, presented the facts to Mrs. Hathia Ama Manu, the presiding judge. Inspector Lartey detailed that the complainant, the unit committee chairman for the Asuminam Electoral Area near Wassa Dominase in Ghana’s Western Region, reported the case. Both Yeboah, also an illegal miner, and Isaac resided in Asuminam and shared a longstanding friendship.

On the night of August 6, 2023, at around 11:30 pm, Isaac reportedly returned home heavily intoxicated and began disturbing Yeboah, who was asleep after a long day at work. Despite Yeboah’s efforts to deter Isaac from pestering him, the harassment continued.

The situation escalated when Yeboah, in an attempt to ward off Isaac, struck him on the back with a cutlass. Infuriated, Isaac retaliated, seizing a cutlass and attacking Yeboah, ultimately severing his right wrist. Concerned neighbors intervened and rushed Yeboah to Greenshield Hospital in Sefwi Bekwai, where he received treatment before being discharged.

To avoid a mob attack after the incident, Isaac feigned unconsciousness until police arrived and placed him under arrest. Following his confession, Isaac was initially detained at the Asankragwa District Court as investigations progressed. His conviction has brought attention to the dangers surrounding illegal mining activities and the violence that sometimes accompanies these informal operations.