Aisha Huang
The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Mr Kwaku Asomah-Cheremeh has disputed claims of the government exchanging notorious Chinese national and popular galamsey queen, Aisha Huang for the $2bn Sinohydro deal.
Speaking at a news conference in Accra on Thursday, the Minister disclosed that though he was not part of the deal negotiation process, he had been adequately informed about the deal.
Mr Asomah-Cheremeh stressed that Ms Huang was not given any preferential treatment by the government.
“No government official thought of shielding her and no government official pampered her. There is nobody in the New Patriotic Party who dreamt of dealing with Aisha in one way or the other so that she can perpetuate the illegal mining she was fond of doing in Ghana so as to enable government to secure the loan from China.
“We did not sacrifice or exchange her for the loan. This lady was in Ghana prior to the arrangement that we made with the Chinese government to secure the financial assistance from them,” he clarified.
“Aisha Huang was not part of the discussion when the delegation met with the Chinese officials to negotiate the deal,” he told the media.
According to the Minister, about 194 people of various nationalities including Nigerians, Burkinabes, Malians and other West African nationals have also been deported.
Source: Adomonline | Gertrude Otchere