The state is set to call eight witnesses in the trial in which Chinese Galamsey Queen Aisha Huang has been accused of engaging in illegal mining.
Attorney General Godfred Yeboah Dame informed the Accra High Court of the latest development when the case was called on Tuesday (October 11, 2022).
Already four witness statements and 18 pieces of evidence had been filed prior to the latest hearing.
Mr Dame, therefore, asked for an adjournment to enable the prosecution to file the rest of its documents.
Also, he urged the court presided over by Justice Lydia Osei Marfo, to allow for expeditious trial as this was a matter of great importance.
The case was subsequently adjourned to October 24, 2022.
Meanwhile, three other accomplices of Aisha Huang were denied bail again.
They have been remanded in the custody of the National Investigation Bureau pending the final determination of their case.
According to the facts before the court, receipts of the purchase of mining concessions were found in their possession at the time of their arrest and WhatsApp conversations amongst them suggest their involvement in illegal mining.
The three persons, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The plea of one other accused person who is a Vietnamese national was deferred as the court had no interpreter on standby.
Regarding Aisha Huang, she is expected to remain in NIB custody even though her lawyers attempted to apply for bail.
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 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.