Indexing government scandals one at a time
State prosecutors have discontinued the trial of ‘Aisha’ Huang and four other Chinese nationals alleged to have carried out illegal mining activities in the country. The State Attorney, Mercy Arthur, presented the application for nolle prosequi to the Accra High Court, presided over by Justice Charles Ekow Baiden.
But she did not give a reason for the discontinuation of the case. Based on the application, the court discharged the five accused persons. The judge had previously complained about how the case was being delayed.
Aisha Huang was charged with three counts of undertaking small-scale mining operations, contrary to Section 99 (1) of the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703); providing mining support services without valid registration with the Minerals Commission, contrary to the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703), and the illegal employment of foreign nationals, contrary to the Immigration Act, 2000 (Act 573).
Senior Minister, Yaw Osafo Maafo has justified the decision to free embattled Chinese galamsey queen Aisha Huang who was deported back to China, her home country.
“Putting [Aisha Huang] in jail in Ghana is not going to solve your money problem. It is not going to make you happy or me happy”, he revealed to contrary shouts from the background that they should have at least jailed her.
Dec. 19, 2018
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