Ghanaian president Nana Akufo-Addo has confessed his government made a mistake to deport Chinese illegal mining queen Aisha Huang from Ghana.
“I think the decision to deport Aisha Huang in hindsight was a mistake and that is why that process and procedure is being stopped,” Mr. Akufo-Addo told a gathering at Princeton University in the US.
He added: “The attitude and the thinking was the problems involved in prosecuting, having to hibernate and look after etc, it was just the best to send the person; but I think it was a mistake, and the response to that has been the amendment of the law, that is now stiffened enough and enhances sanctions for Ghanaians and foreigners who are engaged in it.”
Ms Huang was arrested in May 2017 and was charged for court. However, the state discontinued the trial and subsequently deported her in December 2018.
The new Mining Law has prescribed stiffer punishment for offenders.
Nana Addo told the Bar Conference recently that on 19th August, 2019, he gave assent to the Minerals and Mining (Amendment) Act, 2019, which has increased drastically the penalties for persons engaged in illegal mining, the notorious ‘galamsey’.
“We are now talking about minimum mandatory sentences of fifteen (15) years, and a maximum of twenty-five (25) years, for persons caught in galamsey, and the Act has also increased the punishment for foreigners, setting minimum mandatory sentences of twenty (20) years, and maximum of twenty-five (25) years. The fight against galamsey has entered a new, decisive phase,” the President assured.
Source: Daily Mail GH
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