A-G lines up 8 witnesses against Aisha Huang

The Attorney-General (A-G), Godfred Yeboah Dame, is seeking an expeditious trial of the alleged illegal mining kingpin, En Huang, aka Aisha Huang.

At the Accra High Court yesterday[October 11, 2022], the A-G indicated the readiness of the state to start full-scale prosecution of the Chinese and informed the court that he had lined up eight witnesses to make the prosecution’s case.

According to Mr Dame, his outfit had filed four witness statements and 18 other pieces of evidence as part of its disclosures.

He then prayed the court, presided over by Justice Lydia Osei Marfo, to give the prosecution one week to file all the disclosures and also consider hearing the case on a daily basis for an expeditious trial.

Justice Marfo remanded the suspect and adjourned the case to October 24, 2022 for a case management conference to allow the A-G ample time to file all the needed disclosures.

Present in court to witness proceedings was the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abu Jinapor.

Commitment

In an interview after the proceedings, Mr Dame said his outfit was fully committed to prosecuting all those found to be engaged in illegal mining (galamsey).

“We want to indicate to the world our full commitment to prosecute all illegal mining offences. It is something that is of utmost importance to the nation,” he said.

Mr Jinapor too said prosecuting alleged offenders was one of the key ways of dealing with the illegal mining menace confronting the country.

“The A-G himself is in court and prosecuting this case in a spirited and enthusiastic manner. This is a big boost to the fight against galamsey. We will continue with our efforts on all fronts to deal with the problem of illegal mining,” he said.

Not guilty

En Huang has been accused of being in the thick of affairs of galamsey, especially in the Ashanti Region.

She was deported from the country in 2018, after the A-G decided to discontinue her trial in which she was accused of engaging in small-scale mining without licence.

However, she was said to have sneaked back into the country to allegedly engage in the same activities for which she was deported

The A-G then decided to prosecute her for the alleged crimes before her deportation and new ones committed since her entry back into the country.

It is the case of the prosecution that Aisha had an illegal mining concession at Bepotenten in the Amansie West District in the Ashanti Region and also operated a mining support services company.

She has pleaded not guilty to undertaking a mining operation without a licence, facilitating the participation of persons engaged in a mining operation, the illegal employment of foreigners and entering Ghana while prohibited from re-entry.

Alleged accomplices

In the same court yesterday, four alleged accomplices of Huang were remanded in police custody over similar offences.

Three of the accused, all Chinese — Shi Yang, alias Philip, Li Wei Guo and Shi Mei Zhi — had pleaded not guilty to engaging in small-scale mining without a licence.

The plea of the fourth accused person — Nguyen Thi Thanh Tuyen, a Vietnamese, who has been charged with remaining in Ghana after expiration of his stay permit — could not be taken because there was no Vietnamese interpreter in the courtroom.

Presenting the facts, Mr Dame said the four accused persons had been involved in illegal mining activities with Aisha Huang in the Obuasi municipality.

Bail refused

Counsel for the four, Ekeleba Blay, who held brief for Freddie Blay, moved a bail application on behalf on her clients.

She argued that her clients had no connection with Aisha Huang’s alleged activities and would not interfere with investigations when granted bail.

In response, the A-G urged the court not to grant bail, on the basis that counsel had not satisfied any condition for bail, as stipulated in the law.

Justice Marfo agreed with the A-G and refused to grant the accused persons bail, on the basis that counsel could not demonstrate that her clients would appear to stand trial when granted bail.

Hearing will continue on November 1.

Read also: Aisha Huang sneaks into Ghana, arrested again for illegal mining

Writer’s email: emma.hawkson@graphic.com.gh