General News
I wish I had the authority to punish you harshly – Judge to Aisha Huang
Justice Lydia Osei Marfo, the judge who sentenced Aisha Huang, also known as the Galamsey Kingpin, to four and a half years in jail and a fine of GH48,000, had voiced a wish for a harsher punishment if she had the ability.
Justice Lydia Osei Marfo stated that Aisha Huang’s crimes were significant and detrimental to the State.
On Monday, December 4, she said that the Chinese national was prosecuted under Act 900, which formerly imposed a maximum punishment of five years for engaging in mining activities without a licence.
She emphasised that the Act’s limits barred her from imposing a longer jail term.
“I wish I had the right to impose the punishment under the current law,” Justice Lydia Marfo noted before giving her sentence.
Meanwhile, under the Minerals and Mining (Amendment) Act 2019, Act 995, Aisha Huang could have faced a minimum of 15 years and a maximum of 25 years in jail.
Aisha Huang faced accusations in November 2022 on four counts: participating in mining activities without a licence, enabling the operation of persons engaged in mining without a licence, unlawful hiring of foreign workers, and entering Ghana when barred.
Despite being deported in 2018, she was believed to have re-entered Ghana over the Aflao border in October 2022 to engage in mining activities. At the time, the state had filed a nolle prosequi on comparable accusations.
Throughout the one-year trial, the Chinese illegal miner pled not guilty to all counts but one: entering Ghana when forbidden.
The state called eleven witnesses, including farmers who testified about selling acreage to the felon and witnessed her unlawful mining on the land. State prosecutors also presented video evidence illustrating the extent of Aisha Huang’s destruction.
The judge ruled after carefully reviewing the evidence that the “state has discharged its burden of proving beyond a reasonable doubt.”
General News
The traumatic experience of a Ghanaian bisexual
A Ghanaian man, using the alias Ibrahim for safety concerns, has boldly told his tragic story of being repeatedly assaulted in his community because of his sexual orientation.
Ibrahim, a Muslim, has described being targeted several times by assailants in his community over the years.
According to him, these attacks have become more intense this year as a result of Ghana’s parliament passing anti-LGBTQ+ legislation.
Ibrahim was attacked just as arguments around the passing of the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill heated up, and he was attacked again shortly after the bill was passed in February.
The first incident happened on January 22nd, at about 5 p.m., near the Sen Cinema Mosque in Alajo North, Accra.
Ibrahim was the target of another violent attack four months later, on April 12, 2024, during the 3music Sallafest Concert at Alajo T Junction in Accra.
Ibrahim claims that the assaults were motivated by his sexual orientation, which had previously gone unnoticed in his society.
Ibrahim has resorted to secluding himself within for protection since he lives in constant fear of additional attacks.
He laments the absence of a support network in his village, with just a few understanding people living outside its borders.
However, the dread of repercussions keeps him from finding consolation or company outside of his close environs.
In an exclusive interview, Ibrahim described his terrible sense of loneliness and the psychological toll of the ongoing danger of violence.
He must navigate his everyday existence beneath the shadow of dread, unable to freely interact with the world around him for fear of serious bodily damage.
General News
Power interruptions damage our enterprises; release dumsor schedule – GUTA
The Ghana Union of Traders’ Associations (GUTA) has joined demands for the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) to produce a load-shedding schedule, citing the persistent power outages that are badly impacting companies and livelihoods across the nation.
GUTA issued a statement emphasising the considerable impact of the power outages on many sectors, including agriculture, trade, and industry.
According to them, firms are struggling to meet production schedules and prepare for their personnel as a result of the irregular power supply, which raises production costs and degrades living conditions.
Traders, store owners, wholesalers, tailors, dressmakers, electricians, and other artists are also suffering business losses as a result of the “Dumsor phenomenon.”
GUTA is asking for answers from ECG about the true reasons of the unpredictable power outages, measures to resolve the issue, and a deadline for resolution.
They also requested ECG to publish a timeframe for load-shedding so that companies may organise their activities appropriately.
Because of the unpredictability of power outages, many shop owners have turned to generators, which has resulted in rising fuel costs to keep them operating during outages.
General News
The Foreign Affairs Ministry cautions against travelling to Northern Mali
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration has advised Ghanaians not to travel to certain areas of Northern Mali.
In an official statement, the Ministry underlined recent security concerns along critical routes connecting Mali and Niger, notably in the Gao and Ansongo regions of Northern Mali.
The Ministry mentioned incidents of terrorist activity targeting travellers along these routes.
“The Ministry remains committed to the safety of Ghanaians and will provide updates on the security situation in the region under reference in due course,” the statement went on to say.
The Foreign Affairs Ministry reminded the people to always prioritise their safety when travelling.
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