Freddie Blay to defend Aisha Huang’s accomplices in Galamsey trial

Former National Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Freddie Blay, will be representing Aisha Huang’s accomplices in the galamsey trial.

Although the former NPP stalwart was not in court today, his colleague Lucy Ekeleba Blay made this known when she held brief for the substantive lawyer.

The accused persons are Chinese nationals; Shi Yang also known as Philip, Li Wei Guo and Shi Mei Zhi and Nguyen Thi Thanh Tuyen, a Vietnamese national.

These accused persons have been charged with engaging in illegal small scale-mining, that is, mining without a licence, contrary to section 99(2)(a) of the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703) as amended by Act 995 of 2019.

Nguyen Thi Thanh Tuyen, the Vietnamese national has been charged with the offense of remaining in Ghana after the expiration of a permit, contrary to sections 20(1) and 52(1)(d) of the Immigration Act, 2000 (Act 573).

The three Chinese nationals pleaded not guilty to the charges.

However, the last accused’s plea was deferred to the next court sitting due to the unavailability of a Vietnamese translator.

The court ordered the Institute of Languages at the University of Ghana, to furnish it with an officer who can speak Vietnamese to assist the court in taking the plea of the fourth accused person.

Together with Aisha Huang, all four were remanded in custody after the Accra High Court denied them bail.

Her Ladyship Lydia Osei Marfo feared the accused persons may not appear for trial if granted bail.

“The accused persons are foreign nationals who do not have sufficient financial or social ties within the jurisdiction of the court and may not appear to stand trial if granted bail.

“And as we know in the country, people usually do not need any passport to exit if they are minded to leave, and considering the severity of the punishment the accused persons will suffer if found guilty, I have the sufficient belief that when granted bail, they will not appear before this court to stand trial,” the judge said.

Meanwhile, the Attorney-General, Godfred Yeboah Dame indicated to the court the readiness of the state to expeditiously dispose of the case.

The team is therefore willing to try the case on a day-after-day basis.

Facts of the case

As narrated in court, the complainants are security and intelligence officers, and the accused persons are Chinese nationals.

The prosecution said Aisha had gained “notoriety” for engaging in a series of small-scale mining activities known as galamsey across the country.

It said in 2017, Aisha was arrested for a similar offense, but she managed to “sneak out” of the country, averting prosecution.

The prosecution said early this year, Aisha “sneaked” into Ghana, having changed the details on her Chinese passport.

The suspect is said to have applied for a Togo visa and went through the borders into Ghana.

Aisha then resumed small-scale mining activities without a license and further engaged in the purchase and sale of minerals in Accra without valid authority as granted by the Minerals and Mining Act.

The prosecution said she engaged in the sale and purchase of minerals with the three accused persons and that intelligence led to their arrest.

What are the charges?

• Undertaking a mining operation without a license contrary to section 99(2)(a) of the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006, Act 703 as amended by the Minerals and Mining (Amendment) Act 2019, Act 995.
• Facilitating the participation of persons engaged in a mining operation contrary to section 99 (2)(a) & (3) of the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006, Act 703 as amended by the Minerals and Mining (Amendment) Act 2019, Act 995
• Illegal employment of foreign nationals contrary to section 24 of the Immigration Act, 2000 (Act 573)
• Entering Ghana while prohibited from re-entry contrary to section 20(4) of the Immigration Act, 2000, Act 573.