Galamsey Charges: Aisha Huang Ordered to Face Trial as Court Rejects 'No Case' Submission

The request for a "no case" submission by the legal team representing a Chinese national accused of illegal mining-related offenses has been rejected by Justice Lydia Osei Marfo at the Accra High Court.

During her approximately 45-minute ruling, Justice Osei Marfo stated that the prosecution had successfully established a prima facie case against the accused.

On May 3, the prosecution concluded its case after calling 11 witnesses to testify. Subsequently, Aisha Huang modified her plea from not guilty to guilty regarding the immigration offense of entering Ghana despite being prohibited from entry.

However, she continues to assert her plea of not guilty concerning four charges, which include engaging in a mining operation without a license, aiding the involvement of individuals in a mining operation, and unlawfully employing foreign nationals.

In 2022, she was apprehended for returning to Ghana and involving herself in illegal mining activities, despite being previously deported in 2018 for the same offense.

The court has postponed the case to July 3, allowing the accused to submit witness statements during this period.