The Ashanti Regional Minister, Simon Osei Mensah has said the return of “Galamsey” kingpin, Aisha Huang, is a threat to the nation’s security.
Mr. Osei Mensah said he cannot fathom how a deportee returned to the country without being caught.
The former MP thus called for proper investigations into the issue and persons found culpable dealt with.
He insisted that this is not an issue that can be allowed to go unnoticed.
“The person was deported and has found her way back into this country, it is a serious issue. It is a special one and bothers national security.
At least we should know how she moved back into this country and some other aspects like who and who aided her to sneak through because if she can come through without being recognised at the borders, it is a serious security threat,” he said on Joy FM’s Top Story on Tuesday, September 6.
Meanwhile, he added that information available to him does not implicate Aisha Huang in any ‘Galamsey’ activities.
The Minister will, however, not provide further details on the issue, citing the prosecution of the accused as the reason.
“The information given to me by the security heads does not indicate that [Aisha’s involvement in Galamsey] for now. Because I am not a lawyer, I cannot talk to the issue that is why I am saying because it is before the law court, I cannot give you any detail.”
The ‘galamsey’ kingpin, Aisha Huang, was arrested in 2017 for engaging in illegal mining. The 47-year-old Chinese national was later deported in 2019 by the government, a move which triggered questions about Ghana’s commitment to eradicating the menace.
Few days ago, news broke about the re-arrest of the ‘galamsey’ Kingpin in her residence at Kumasi for her alleged involvement in the sale and purchase of minerals without a license.
The announcement of her re-arrest and return to the country shocked many Ghanaians and has brought back the discourse on the country’s fight against ‘galamsey’.
Aisha and her three accomplices were, on September 2, charged with engaging in the sale and purchase of minerals without a license.
But the Attorney General, Godfred Yeboah Dame, is set to prosecute her for her past and recent crimes.
The AG has thus requested details of evidence compiled by investigators in 2018 and what has been compiled on alleged recent offences.
“Attorney General and Minister for Justice, Godfred Yeboah Dame, has called for the docket on En Huang, a.k.a. Aisha Huang, from the Police,” portions of the Ministry’s post on September 6 read.
“The Attorney General, per his request, assures that he will initiate prosecution against Miss Huang, in respect of her current alleged offences as well as those of 2017 before her deportation from Ghana in 2018,” the Ministry added.
