Naagyei 90.3 Fm Agyapa
Controversial Aisha Huang, a Ghanaian citizen of Chinese descent, denies ever having participated in galamsey or illegal mining and is currently on trial for it.
On Monday, July 10, 2023, in Accra, Aisha Huang began her case before the High Court, denying the accusation.
In her defense statement, Huang claimed that neither she nor her company had ever engaged in any mining activities. She also claimed that she lacked a mining license.
“Neither my company nor myself have engaged in mining or facilitated mining in any form by any person or group of persons.
“I do not know and have not been to any of the sites captured in the videos, pictures and maps tendered in evidence by the prosecution witnesses,” she told the court presided over by Justice Lydia Osei Marfo.
Aisha Huang who was deported in 2018 but managed to re-enter Ghana under yet to be clarified circumstances, is facing charges of engaging in illegal mining activities without a license.
The state presented 11 witnesses who testified to her involvement in ‘galamsey’ in the Amansie South District of the Ashanti Region.
However, Huang argues that the evidence presented by the prosecution is false and maintained her plea of not guilty on the three counts of undertaking a mining operation without a license.
She also denied facilitating the participation of persons engaged in a mining operation and the illegal employment of foreigners.
Meanwhile, her son, Huang Lei, was convicted and sentenced to a fine of GH¢10,800 for remaining in Ghana after the expiration of his permit.
He was also charged with possession of ammunition without lawful authority, and possession of forged official documents.
Lei initially pleaded not guilty, however, in December 2022, he changed his plea to guilty. Consequently, he was sentenced to a fine of GH¢10,800 and deportation.
