The Convener of Media Coalition Against Illegal Mining says the jail term given to Chinese national, Aisha Huang, for engaging in illegal mining is not punitive enough.
According to engineer Ken Ashigbey, elsewhere, she would have been given a death sentence.
“If you look at Aisha Huang and the trouble she has caused, the four and half years and the GHC48,000.00 is chicken change, where she comes from, it would have been a death sentence. This is not punitive at all and I wish the Attorney General will look at it again, and bring more charges against her,” he explained.
Aisha Huang was slapped with charges of undertaking a mining operation without a license, facilitating the participation of persons engaged in a mining operation, illegal employment of foreign nationals and entering Ghana while prohibited from re-entry.
She admitted to the offence of entry while prohibited from doing so.
An Accra High Court sentenced her to 4 and half years in prison and a fine of GHC48,000.00.
Engineer Kenneth Ashigbey lauded the judge on the case, Justice Lydia Osei Marfo for being brave and exhibiting nationalism.
“We should all applaud the judge who sat on the case and pronounced sentence. She was brave and I hope it sends a signal to others to stand up for our country,” he stated.
The judge expressed her willingness to give a severer sentence if the law allowed that.
Delivering her judgement on Monday, December 4, she explained that the prosecution of the Chinese national was carried out under Act 900, which previously set a maximum penalty of five years for engaging in mining activities without a license.
Justice Lydia Osei Marfo mentioned that the crimes committed by Aisha Huang were serious and harmful to the State and humanity.