Former Member of Parliament for Tamale-Central, Inusah Fuseini, contends that the nation's strategy in combating illegal mining reflects a lack of determination to eradicate the menace.

He specifically points to the lenient sentence given to Aisha Huang, a notorious figure in illegal mining, as evidence that the country is not fully committed to putting an end to the problem.

“I think the Aisha Huang case and the conviction and the sentence is another vivid demonstration of our lack of commitment in fighting this canker. The first arrest of Aisha Huang was under a legal regime that imposed or criminalised illegal mining and imposed a sentence that was higher than four and half years,” he said at "JoyNews National Dialogue of Illegal Mining" on December 4.

Mr. Fuseini, a former Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, expressed his response to a recent Accra High Court verdict in which the 'galamsey queen,' a Chinese national known as En Huang (Aisha Huang), received a four-and-a-half-year prison sentence and a GH₵48,000 fine.

En Huang faced charges related to engaging in mining without a license, facilitating others in illegal mining operations, employing foreigners unlawfully, and entering Ghana despite being prohibited from re-entry.

The ex-minister emphasized that during his tenure at the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, it was recognized that the existing sentencing structure was insufficient and lacked the necessary deterrence.

As a result, amendments were made to address this issue. Consequently, Mr. Fuseini argued that the court's decision to apply the old mining regime was concerning and did not send a strong signal, given the efforts made to strengthen the legal framework during his time in office.

“We seemed to be suggesting that this canker can be tolerated," he added.

Furthermore, he asserted that environmental crimes, on a global scale, are tantamount to crimes against humanity and should not be justified under the guise of mineral exploitation. To support his argument, he shared a video depicting a woman who experienced a stillbirth, attributing it to the adverse effects of residing in a community affected by illegal mining.

Mr. Fuseini contended that this issue goes beyond mere economic considerations; it poses a direct threat to both our existence and the country's economy. He emphasized that the ramifications of illegal mining are immeasurable and expose the nation to dangers that cannot be easily quantified.

The former legislator insisted that a more concerted and resolute effort is required to confront this pervasive problem, echoing the determination demonstrated by other nations facing similar challenges.