A Bekwai Circuit Court in the Ashanti Region has granted bail to 31 suspects, made up of 28 Chinese nationals and three Ghanaians, arrested over alleged illegal mining activities in the Apamprama Forest Reserve.
Each accused person was granted bail in the sum of GH₵200,000 with two justified sureties. The court directed that the sureties must be Ghanaian nationals and that their Ghana Cards be deposited at the court registry. The passports of all accused persons are also to be deposited as part of the bail conditions.
The court further instructed the Registrar and the lead investigator to ensure strict compliance with the bail requirements.
According to available information, the accused persons have been unable to meet the bail conditions and have filed an application through their lawyer seeking a variation of the terms.
Concerns have also emerged over the immigration status of the foreign nationals, as copies of their entry visas reportedly indicate that the visas had expired prior to their alleged unlawful entry into the forest reserve. This has raised questions about the purpose of the visas and the circumstances under which the suspects entered the protected area, prompting calls for clarification from the Ghana Immigration Service.
The case has been adjourned to February 9, 2026, for further proceedings.
