Jailing Chinese ‘Galamsey Queen’ won’t solve Ghana’s problems – Snr. Minister

The Senior Minister has justified the decision to truncate the prosecution of a Chinese national who brazenly engaged in illegal mining despite several warnings.

Yaw Osafo Marfo said jailing Aisha Huang, nicknamed ‘Galamsey Queen’ wouldn’t have solved Ghana’s economic challenges.

Addressing a townhall meeting abroad, the Senior Minister said Ghana has great diplomatic relationship with China and intends to partner them in key infrastructural projects citing the $2 billion Sinohydro deal.

“Today, the main company that is helping develop the infrastructure system in Ghana is Sinohydro, it is a Chinese Company. It is the one that is going to help process our bauxite and provide about $2 billion to us,” he said.

“So, when there are these kinds of arrangements, there are other things behind the scenes. Putting that lady [Aisha] in jail in Ghana is not going to solve your economic problems.

Senior Minister Yaw Osafo-Marfo

“It is not going to make you happy or me happy, that’s not important, the most important thing is that she has been deported from Ghana…” he added.

Miss Aisha was arraigned before court on May 9, 2017, for engaging in galamsey activities at Bepotenten in the Amansie Central District in the Ashanti Region.

Miss Huang leaving the court before her deportation from Ghana

Subsequently, the Attorney General’s office in December 2018 withdrew the case against her and four other Chinese nationals believed to be engaging in illegal mining. They were hurriedly repatriated to their country.

The Media Coalition Against Illegal Mining petitioned the AG demanding answers.

Defending the decision, Senior Minister Yaw Osafo Marfo said government made the right call.

“We have a very good relationship with China.

“…I am saying that there are many other things beyond what we see in these matters and everybody is wide awake, the most important thing is that we have banned this…we have established regulations and we are protecting our environment.

“That is far more important than one Chinese woman who has been deported out of the country,” he said amidst dissent from some people at the venue.

Source: Ghana| Myjoyonline.com