Member of Parliament for Pru East, Dr. Kwabena Donkor, has urged for the prosecution of the accomplices of the galamsey kingpin Aisha Huang following her sentencing on Monday.

Dr. Donkor emphasized that Aisha Huang did not operate alone but had individuals involved in illegal mining activities with her. He asserted that these accomplices also need to be held accountable and face legal consequences.

“She had accomplices either in officialdom or the boys on the streets. What has happened to them? So we should not be seen to be only targeting foreigners. We should deal with all those who were involved in that crime,” Dr Donkor said.

“If we do that, no country can come and say, why are you jailing our citizens? Because your citizens were part of a syndicate,” he added.

Dr. Kwabena Donkor emphasized that all political figures involved in illegal mining, along with their accomplices, should face legal consequences to serve as a deterrent and contribute to the fight against illegal mining.

This call comes in the wake of Aisha Huang's conviction on mining offences, where she received a 4-and-a-half-year prison sentence and a fine of GH₵48,000.

Aisha Huang, also known as the 'galamsey queen,' was found guilty of undertaking mining operations without a license, facilitating the participation of individuals in illegal mining, illegally employing foreigners, and entering Ghana while prohibited from re-entry.

However, the sentencing has faced criticism from some stakeholders and the public, who believe it does not adequately reflect the environmental damage caused by her illegal mining activities.

Deputy Attorney General Alfred Tuah-Yeboah clarified that the relatively lenient prison term and fine imposed on Aisha Huang were due to the timeframe of her illegal mining operations. According to Tuah-Yeboah, Aisha Huang was prosecuted for involvement in illegal mining operations between 2015 and 2017, a period before the amendment of the law.

He emphasized that there was no evidence of her engagement in illegal mining after her return to Ghana in 2022, following her initial deportation in 2018.

Tuah-Yeboah pointed out that since Aisha Huang committed the crimes under the old law, the judge adhered to the maximum punishment stipulated by the previous legislation.

"If you have a new law that has reduced the punishment under the old law, use it. But if the old law is lesser than the new law, use the old law; that is the law," Tuah-Yeboah explained.

But speaking on Newsfile, Dr Donkor said he understood the calls for harsher punishments when it comes to galamsey cases; explaining that “in 2015, the level of galamsey and the damage of galamsey is not what it is today. And therefore it is only right that having seen the increasing level of galamsey and destruction of galamsey, we review our laws.”

In response to the concerns and criticisms regarding the sentence imposed on Aisha Huang, Attorney General Godfred Dame issued a statement on Tuesday, December 5, expressing his intention to appeal the ruling. He agreed with critics who argued that the four-and-a-half-year prison term and GH₵48,000 fine did not align with the gravity of her actions under Act 995.