Sometimes victory comes in small wins, and although it may be regarded as a little too late, it is still a step in the right direction towards rectifying a wrong.
The raging battle with illegal mining and its attendant detractors of the land has caused phenomenal damage not only to a significant number of waterbodies which serve as drinking water for a greater chunk of Ghanaians but has inflicted irreparable damage to government’s reputation.
Years on after President Akufo-Addo vowed to step down if he fails to nip galamsey in the bud, the practice continues unabated and has actually intensified, threatening to extend to forest reserves in the country.
Despite several initiatives churned out by government through the ministry of land and natural resources, not much has been done about galamsey, and even if a lot has been done in that regard, there isn’t much to show for it on the ground.
After months of trying to slip through the legal cracks, illegal mining kingpin, Aisha Huang has finally been convicted of mining offences.
The ‘galamsey queen’ was sentenced to 4 and a half years in prison in addition to a fine of GH₵48,000.
The Chinese national, also known as En Huang, was standing trial for undertaking a mining operation without a license, facilitating the participation of persons engaged in mining operation, the illegal employment of foreigners and entering Ghana while prohibited from re-entry.
Over the years, the operation of the ‘galamsey queen’ has been brazen, with some vowing she is being backed by high-profile government officials.
Despite the sentencing of Aisha Huang, there are pockets of disappointments over her ‘lenient’ sentencing for the egregious destruction to Ghana’s land.
Clarification on Aisha Huang sentencing
However, Deputy Attorney General, Alfred Tuah-Yeboah, has clarified the reasons behind the relatively lenient prison term and fine imposed on Chinese illegal mining kingpin, Aisha Huang.
He revealed that Miss Huang was prosecuted for her involvement in illegal mining operations between 2015 and 2017, by which time the amended law had not been passed.
The Deputy Attorney General emphasized that there was no evidence of her engagement in illegal mining after her return to Ghana in 2022, following her previous deportation in 2018.
Mr Tuah-Yeboah explained that the case was heavily dependent on evidence collected between 2015 and 2017 and that the prosecution’s case was supported by several testimonies including those from local farmers who asserted that Miss Huang had negotiated with them to use their land for illegal mining.
Furthermore, the Deputy Attorney General insisted that the judge had applied the appropriate sentencing guidelines.
“If you have a new law that has reduced the punishment under the old law, use it. But if the old law is lesser than the new law, use the old law; that is the law. The law is about evidence and not speculation. Aisha Huang’s case was prosecuted based on the evidence that we had between 2015 and 2017. Nothing more, nothing less.”
Alfred Tuah-Yeboah
To some, the conviction of the Chinese national is not deterrent enough for other illegal miners yet to be caught. But beyond her conviction, what is government going to do to block all the leakages people exploit to ruthlessly cause such destruction?
Ghana must definitely move from reactionary stance on issues that affect the country to more proactive position to forestall such harm in the future.
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