Aisha Huang accomplices had no visas to work in Ghana – GIS
Four Chinese nationals, who were engaged to mining for Aisha Huang at Bepotenten in the Ashanti region had no visas to stay or work in Ghana.
Divine Ahumah Ocansey Deputy Superintendent of Immigration (DSI) told an Accra High Court that documents available to the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) further revealed that they were not invited by Aisha to come to Ghana.
Continuing with his evidence, DSI Ocansey said it was untrue that Aisha invited them to Ghana to work on her excavators.
Aisha Huang and her four accomplices: Gao Jin Cheng, 45; Lu Qi Jun 39; Habin Gao 26; and Zang Pan 23, have been accused of engaging in illegal mining in the Ashanti Region.
Aisha, aka Yaa Asantewaa, has additionally been accused of providing mine support services without valid license from the Minerals Commission.
They have all denied the charges.
DSI Ocansey, who was led in evidence by Ms Mercy Arthur, Senior State Attorney, said Cheng who is being tried in absentia, arrived in Ghana on June 13, 2015 with a visa issued to him by Ghana Mission in Beijing and he was given 30 days.
During that period, DSI Ocansey said he was not permitted to work or be employed by somebody in the country.
According to DSI Ocansey, Qi Jun also arrived in the country with an emergency visa on July 30, 2016 and he came following an invitation by a company known as Becomrich Company Limited.
Qi Jun, the prosecution witness, said was also to spend 30 days in Ghana for business purposes only.
The witness said although Becomrich had its location at Fadama, the GIS could not trace that location.
In the case of Gao, DSI Ocansey said he arrived in Ghana on April 23, last year and he was invited by the Director of Dynamic Trading Company Limited.
The witness said when the GIS conducted check from the company, the company “distanced itself from Gao”.
According to the witness, Gao had earlier on told the GIS that he was invited by Aisha.
In the case of Zang Pan, he also arrived in Ghana on April 23, 2017 and he was invited by one Madam Kazier Donkor of Great wall Traditional Chinese Clinic in Kumasi but this has not been.
Answering questions under cross-examination from Mr Augustine Gyamfi, a defence counsel who held brief of Captain Retired Nkrabeah Effah Dartey, DSI Ocansey said he could not tell whether the accused channelled their travelling documents to the appropriate channels until the GIS made an official request from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Research Department.
Aisha Huang, popularly known as galamsey queen and four others accused of engaging in illegal mining at Bepotenten in the Ashanti Region is on bail with four others who have all pleaded not guilty and are on GH¢500,000.00 bail each, with a surety each to be justified before the court presided over by Mr Charles Ekow Baiden.
Hearing continues on July 13.
Source: GNA