Akufo-Addo says Aisha Huang’s deportation was a mistake
President Akufo-Addo has described as a mistake government’s decision to deport Chinese galamsey queen Aisha Huang.
According to him, such a mistake will never happen again following the development of a legislation to fight illegal mining.
The President was speaking at a forum at Princeton University during his visit to the United States (US).
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“I think the decision to deport Aisha Huang in hindsight was a mistake and that is why that process and procedure is being stopped,” he said.
In May 2017, Miss Aisha was arrested and arraigned before court over her involvement in illegal mining activities in the Ashanti region.
She was subsequently charged with three counts of undertaking small-scale mining operations, providing mining support services without valid registration with the Minerals Commission and illegal employment of foreign nationals.
However, she was deported last December after the Attorney General’s office controversially withdrew the case against her.
The Senior Minister, Yaw Osafo Maafo, later disclosed that deporting the Chinese national was the best decision due to diplomatic reasons.
But following the amendment of the mining law of Ghana, persons caught engaging in illegal mining activities will henceforth be given a minimum sentence of 15 years.
The law also stipulates not less than 20 years and not more than 25 years for foreigners caught engaging in illegal mining activities.
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These heavy sanctions, the President believes, will help deter people from involving themselves in galamsey operations.
“The response to that has been the amendment of the law that… enhances sanctions for people; both Ghanaians and foreigners who are engaged [in illegal mining],” Nana Addo added.
YEN.com.gh also report earlier that the Ghana Railway Company Limited (GRCL) on Tuesday, September 17, 2019, successfully carried out a test run on the rail line from Kojokrom to Tarkwa.
This follows a decision by the GRCL to rehabilitate the rail line, which has not been in operation for over a decade. Passenger service on the Kojokrom to Tarkwa line has been out of service from September 13, 2007.
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Source: YEN.com.gh
