TRANSCRIPT: What President Akufo-Addo said about Aisha Huang's deportation (VIDEO)
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has stated that the government’s decision to deport Chinese national, Aisha Huang who was facing three counts of undertaking small-scale mining operations was a mistake.
Related Articles
Advertisement
NDC will extradite Aisha Huang to Ghana for prosecution - Ablakwa
Aisha Huang was not exchanged for Sinohydro deal - Gov't
OccupyGhana disappointed by Osafo Maafo's comments on Aisha Huang
Aisha Huang and four other Chinese illegal miners deported
Galamsey: State no longer interested in Aisha Huang case
Judge angry at slow pace of Aisha Huang trial
Court orders arrest of Chinese national in Aisha Huang case
Judge directs Aisha Huang’s ‘new lawyer’ to appear properly
Aisha Huang pleads with court to change bail terms
The President was responding to a question from a Ghanaian resident in the US state of Colorado at a Princeton University forum during his visit to the United States of America.
Watch the video below;
Read a transcript of what President Akufo-Addo said below;
"First of all, the fight against illegal mining in Ghana is something that has not been systematically undertaken until I came into office.
"So, it's a first step... I think the decision that was made to deport the Aisha woman on hindsight was a mistake and that is why that procedure has been stopped.
"The attitude and the thinking was that, the problems involved in prosecuting and then having to hibernate and look after etc... It was just better to send the person... But I think it was a mistake and the response to that has been the amendment of the law that has now stiffened and enhanced the sanctions for people, both Ghanaians and foreigners who are engaged."
Deportation
Aisha and four other Chinese nationals who were arrested for their involvement in illegal mining (
A State Attorney, Ms Mercy Arthur, presented the application for nolle prosequi to the Accra High Court, presided over by Mr Justice Charles Ekow Baiden.
Based on the application, the court discharged the five accused persons.
She 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).
The other four accused persons were charged with disobedience of directives given by or under the Immigration Act, 2000 (Act 573).
According to the prosecution, Aisha had a mining concession at Bepotenten and also operated a mining support services company.
The four other accused persons, it said, were employed by Aisha to work at the mining site.
The prosecution claimed checks at the Minerals Commission, however, revealed that Aisha had no licence to operate either a mine or a mining support services company.
They also contended that the visas issued to all the five Chinese by the Ghana Embassy in Beijing, China, did not allow them to work in Ghana.