General Secretary of the Convention Peoples Party (CPP) Nana Yaa Akyempim Jantuah has asked the government to deal with all foreigners who engage in illegal small mining (galamsey) without fear or intimidation from their countries.
In her view, Ghana is well-endowed with abundant natural resources which other countries do not have. To that end she said, Ghana must not be scared ensuring that foreigners who fall foul of the law face the law.
Speaking in connection with the re-entry of Chinese galamsey queen Aisha Huang on TV3’s New Day show on Thursday September 8, Nana Yaa Jantuah said “Why should we be afraid of China? We have the resources, everything to make us so comfortable and be rich.”
On this same issue, the Dean of the Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff College (GAFCSC), Dr Vladimir Antwi-Danso, also said Aisha Huang disrespected Ghana with her re-entry into the country without permission.
Dr Antwi-Daneo said Ghanaian authorities must send a clear signal to all foreigners to respect the laws of the land.
[Her re-entry] shows disrespect for us as Ghanaians and for our country. When you are deported, you are declared persona non grata, you are not wanted until you are invited into the country.
“She treated us with this kind of disdain, we should let all foreigners know that we are a country to be respected,” he told Alfred Ocansey on the Ghana Tonight show on TV3 Tuesday September 6.
“she treated us with this kind of disdain, we should let all foreigners to know that we are a country to be respected,” he added.
On Monday September 5, an Accra Circuit Court remanded into custody 4 Chinese nationals for their alleged involvement in illegal small-scale mining activities.
Hearing the case Monday September 5, three suspects, Jong Li Huang, Huang Jei and Huiad Hua pleaded not guilty in court to a charge of engaging in sales and purchases of minerals without license.
Aisha Huang who was deported following her involvement in galamsey activities is facing charges of engaging in sale and purchases of minerals without license, as well as mining without license.
She is reported to have returned to the country under a different name. She reportedly applied for a TogoVisa and went through the borders into Ghana to continue her galamsey business in a town in the Ashanti Region.
