Galamsey: Four Chinese linked to Aisha Huang arrested
The Obuasi Municipal Office of the Ghana Immigration Service has arrested four Chinese nationals on suspicion of engaging in illegal Mining at Bepotenteng in the Amansie Central District of the Ashanti Region.
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They were picked up at about 7pm on Friday in a make-shift wooden structure in the area noted for illegal mining by Chinese nationals.
They were working for a Chinese woman, Aisha Huang, alias Yaa Asantewa who owns mining concessions in the area.
They were identified as Gao Jin Chec, 45; Lu Qi Jun, 39; Haibin Gao, 26 and Zhang Zhi Peng, 23 and they have since been sent to Kumasi for further investigations.
Despite the ban on illegal mining and the arrest of the four, Graphic Online understands some other Chinese nationals with the support of Ghanaians were busily mining in the area which belongs to the Volta Resources Company Limited.
Briefing Graphic Online after the arrest, the Municipal Commander of the Ghana Immigration Service, Chief Superintendent Isaac Morgan said his office received intelligence that some Chinese nationals were still engaging in illegal mining after the deadline by the government for all forms of small scale mining activities to cease.
Mr Morgan said after their arrest, the Chinese woman, Aisha Huang came to the office and insisted that the people had proper documentation and were working for her and promised to furnish the immigration officers with their papers.
In August 2016, some residents of Bepotenteng with support from national security seized some excavators belonging to Aisha Huang. This was after six children had drowned in pits dug by her workers.
