The Attorney General’s office has stated that it plans to file an appeal with the Court of Appeal in an effort to get Chinese illegal miner Aisha Huang, who is currently in jail, given a harsher sentence.
On Tuesday, December 5, 2023.12.5, this was revealed in a statement that was signed by Godfred Yeboah Dame, the Minister of Justice and Attorney General.
The AG states that the purpose of the planned appeal procedure is to evaluate whether the trial judge’s sentence of Aisha Huang was appropriate in light of the Minerals and Mining (Amendment) Act, 2015 (Act 900).
According to the statement, the AG wants the conviction to be punished by the appeals court in accordance with the Minerals and Mining (Amendment) Act, 2019 (Act 995), which imposes harsher penalties of at least 20 years for the crime she committed.
“Whilst applauding the efficiency of the justice delivery system witnessed in the trial of Aisha Huang, the Attorney General will however test the soundness of the decision of the trial court to punish the accused person under Act 900, by filing an appeal at the Court of Appeal, against the sentence to ensure that the new sentencing regime imposed by Act 995 is applied to the accused person,” the AG’s statement read in part.
Aisha Huang was given a four and a half year prison sentence on Monday, December 4, 2023, for mining without a license. The court also assessed her a GH¢48,000 fine.
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.
Many Ghanaians expressed their anger at the sentence, arguing that it was not appropriate given the seriousness of the crime she had committed.
Below is the AG’s statement:
