The Attorney General and Minister for Justice of Ghana, Godfred Yeboah Dame, has declared that any identified kingpin involved in illegal mining, locally known as ‘galamsey,’ will be prosecuted in the country’s courts.
This announcement comes ahead of Thursday’s highly anticipated judgment in the case of Chinese national En Huang, also known as Aisha Huang, at an Accra Circuit Court.
Aisha Huang, a Chinese national, has been on trial for a series of charges related to illegal mining activities. These charges include undertaking mining operations without a valid license, facilitating the participation of individuals in illegal mining operations, employing foreigners illegally, and entering Ghana in violation of a re-entry prohibition.
The prosecution has already presented its closing submission, and the Attorney General expressed confidence that the outcome of this case will serve as a strong deterrent to individuals engaged in the illicit mining trade.
Attorney General Godfred Yeboah Dame stated, “All along, there has been the intervention of this major Chinese kingpin behind ‘galamsey’ operations in Ghana – Aisha Huang. Aisha Huang is being prosecuted, indeed, the prosecution has come to an end. We concluded the prosecution in July, and the court has fixed 12th October for judgment. So we expect judgment to be delivered in the Aisha Huang matter. So that clearly indicates that any kingpin identified and arrested will be put through trial.”
Aisha Huang has long been accused of involvement in illegal mining activities, particularly in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. She was deported from Ghana in 2018 after the Attorney-General decided to discontinue her initial trial, in which she was accused of engaging in small-scale mining without the necessary license.
However, it has been alleged that she re-entered Ghana clandestinely to resume the same illegal activities for which she was deported.
The prosecution’s case against Aisha Huang includes claims that she held an illegal mining concession at Bepotenten in the Amansie West District of the Ashanti Region and operated a mining support services company. Aisha Huang has pleaded not guilty to the charges, including undertaking mining operations without a license, facilitating illegal mining, employing foreigners unlawfully, and entering Ghana despite a re-entry prohibition.
The pending judgment in the Aisha Huang case is expected to send a clear message to those involved in illegal mining operations in Ghana.
