It has emerged that immediate past National Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Frederick Worsemao Armah Blay, popularly called Freddie Blay, is defense counsel for four other suspects in the ongoing prosecution of notorious ‘galamsey kingpin’ Aisha Huang.
The revelation was made today, Tuesday, October 11, 2022 when his son, Ekeleba Blay, held brief for his father during proceedings.
The three, Shi Yang alias Philip, Li Wei Guo and Shi Mei Zhi are on a provisional charge of engaging in small scale-mining without a licence, contrary to section 99(2)(a) of the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703) as amended by Act 995 of 2019.
They have all pleaded not guilty and have been remanded into the custody of the National Investigations Bureau pending the final determination of their case.
Presenting facts before the Court, Attorney General, Godfred Dame, said receipts of purchase of mining concessions were found in their possession at the time of their arrest.
He also told the High Court hearing the case that WhatsApp conversations amongst the accused also pointed to their involvement in illegal mining activities.
Another suspect, a Vietnam national; Nguyen Thi Thanh Tuyen, is however facing prosecution for over staying in Ghana after the expiration of a permit contrary to sections 20(1) and 52(1)(d) of the Immigration Act, 2000 (Act 573).
Presiding Judge, Lydia Osei Marfo was however compelled to deferred hearing of the Vietnamese following the difficulty understanding both Chinese and English languages to make room for an interpreter at the next appearance on 1st November, 2022.
Meanwhile the prosecution is expected to present eight witness statements and 18 other documents by October 24 where case management conference for the Aisha Huang case is expected to begin.
