OccupyGhana calls for ‘weightier’ charges for Aisha Huang, others
Pressure group, OccupyGhana is raising concerns with the laxity of the immigration charges brought before some suspected Chinese illegal miners, thus prompting a petition to the Attorney General’s office.
Making reference to what it said purports to be the charge sheet in the case of Republic v. En Huang & 4 Others, the pressure group said the offences laid and filed against the suspects did not match the severity of the crime.
Thus all accused persons, being holders of visitors’ visas had disobeyed the condition that required them not to engage in any employment in Ghana, of which punishment demands a maximum fine of GH¢12,000 and/or a maximum prison term of two years, under section 52 of the Immigration Act.
This notwithstanding, OccupyGhana said immigration offences laid and filed against the Accused Persons do not match the severity of the act of employing or being employed illegally at a small-scale mining site.
According to the group, offences under the Minerals and Mining Act would be more fitting for the severity of the offences.
“From our research, foreigners are absolutely prohibited from engaging in small-scale mining in Ghana. It is, therefore, an offence under section 99 of the Minerals and Mining Act for foreigners to engage in small-scale mining, and offenders attract a fine between GH¢360,000 and GH¢3.6M, and/or a maximum jail term of 20 years.”
Thus, According to the group, if these Accused Persons employed others or were employed to mine illegally, then the immigration charges that have been laid and filed are really minor as compared to what the law provides for in the Minerals and Mining Act.
“We, therefore, Petition your office to call for the docket on this matter, investigate the charges laid and filed, and if found necessary, for fresh, proper, weightier and more relevant charges to be filed or added.”
