Aisha Huang, a Chinese national known as the “galamsey queen,” was imprisoned by the Criminal Division of the Accra High Court for engaging in illicit mining within the nation.
In addition, Aisha Huang was fined GH¢48,000 and will be deported once her jail sentence is up.
The court, chaired by Justice Lydia Osei-Marfo, found her guilty of conducting an illegal mining operation, facilitating the participation of individuals engaged in an illegal mining operation, and employing foreign nationals without authorization.
On the basis of her own plea, Aisha Huang was found guilty of entering Ghana while being barred from returning.
In her brief to the court, Yvonne Atokora Obuobisa, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), established Aisha’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
The court stated that Aisha Huang contradicted herself during her trial defense statements, despite having denied all of the charges.
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In his plea of mitigation, Aisha’s attorney, Miracle Attachey, stated that his client had been detained since October 2022.
Consequently, he begged the court to grant his client a fine and deportation rather than a jail term.
He said “It is our humble prayer that a custodial sentence to the accused would exert another financial burden on the state, particularly the prison service.”
The Director of Public Prosecutions responded sharply, stating that the court had to impose a maximum custodial sentence and a deportation order due to the impact of Aisha’s actions on the families and witnesses who testified before this court.
She said “In conclusion, we wish to state that because of the indignity with which the accused person operated, the sentence should reflect the impact of her actions on the people of Ghana, the communities that she had permanently impaired and the livelihoods that she took away.”
Aisha Huang changed her plea on the final charge after the trial lasted for several months, but her plea on the counts related to illegal mining is still not guilty.
On September 5, 2022, Aisha Huang was taken into custody again for the same offenses.
Aisha was brought before the court, along with three other Chinese nationals, on allegations of engaging in unlicensed mining and mineral buying and selling.
