Chinese national Aisha Huang has pleaded not guilty to two charges at the Circuit Court in Accra Wednesday.
The charges are engaging in sale and purchases of minerals without valid licence and Mining without licence.
Aisha Huang, who appeared with three others, spoke through an interpreter.
EIB Network’s Court Correspondent Murtala Inusah reports that the court presided over by Samuel Bright Acquah is currently considering her bail application.
Meanwhile, President Akufo-Addo has added his voice to calls for the prosecution of Aisha Huang who has been arrested again for her engagement in illegal mining in the country.
The notorious galamsey Queen was first arrested in May 2017 and charged for undertaking illegal mining but was subsequently deported.
She, was, however, re-arrested in Kumasi two weeks ago by the National Security for ostensibly sneaking back into the country to continue her galamsey business – sparking outrage among the Ghanaian public who are calling for her prosecution.
But speaking at a conference of the Ghana Bar Association in Ho, as part of a two-day tour of the Volta region, President Akufo-Addo indicated his support for the prosecution of the suspect by the Attorney General.
“…to show you of my full support of the Attorney General in his determination to prosecute Aisha Huang and her collaborators who apparently insist on flouting our laws on galamsey and illegal mining.”
“I expect if they are found guilty, that the court will apply the full rigour of the new amended Act 995 which has increased substantially the punishment for breaches of the law,” President Akufo-Addo stressed.
