Aisha Huang forged marriage, passport documents – Second Witness reveals

The state prosecution’s second witness, Supt. David Essien has revealed that “Chinese galamsey queen” Aisha Huang used a forged marriage certificate and Ghana Passport to apply for a residency permit (indefinite).

Aisha Huang is standing trial for engaging in illegal mining activities in the Ashanti Region.

Tendering in his witness statement in court today, Supt. Essien said he has had two encounters with the galamsey queen in 2016 and 2017 as an Assistant Superintendent of the Ghana Immigration Service at the Enforcement Unit in Kumasi.

According to him, the first encounter was from a media publication detailing the effects of galamsey she was allegedly involved in, in 2016.

He said the publication dated August 30 was titled: “Tension mounts in Amansie West over Chinese galamsey activities”.

Probed further by Capt Rtd Effah Dartey, Counsel for Aisha, to give details on how the witness encountered his client, Supt Essien said: “She was on indefinite residency permit granted to her based on her supposed marriage to a Ghanaian known as Anthony Fabian.

“However, investigations conducted by GIS established that the accused used a forged marriage cert and forged Ghana Passport in support of her application for the indefinite residency permit.”

He said following the investigations, which led to findings about the forged documents of Aisha Huang, the state revoked the indefinite residence permit.

“My Lord, as a result of this, the Comptroller General of the GIS revoked the indefinite residence permit on grounds of fraudulent misrepresentation in accordance with section 22 subsection 2a of immigration act 2000, Act 573, which led to the subsequent repatriation of the accused on  December 19, 2018.”

The case has been adjourned to November 15 for cross-examination to continue.

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 small-scale mining activities known as galamsey across the country.

It said in 2017, Aisha was arrested for a similar offence, 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 is 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.