US-based Ghanaian lawyer and social commentator, Prof. Stephen Asare, also known as Kwaku Azar, has reiterated his stance on jailing foreign galamseyers, emphasizing that deporting them without sentencing undermines the seriousness of the offense.
According to him, “Deporting foreign galamseyers without sentencing sends the wrong signal. It undermines the seriousness of the offense and denies the state the opportunity to demonstrate that illegal mining is a crime with real consequences—regardless of nationality.”
This comes after the Minister for Interior Muntaka Mohammed announced that the government has resolved not to waste time and resources prosecuting foreigners arrested for criminal activities in Ghana, opting for deportation instead.
However, Kwaku Azar believes foreign galamseyers should be prosecuted and sentenced under Ghanaian law to underscore the country’s commitment to protecting its environment and sovereignty.
He noted that “serving a sentence deters others, reinforces the rule of law, and ensures justice is seen to be done” and “deportation can follow completion of the sentence, but it should not substitute accountability.”
“Letting foreign galamseyers off with mere deportation weakens the justice system and emboldens others to follow suit,” Kwaku Azar argued.
Under the erstwhile Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo administration, Aisha Huang, also known as the ‘Galamsey Queen,’ had been deported but subsequently reentered the country, disguising herself and raising questions about the effectiveness of deportation as a deterrent.
Kwaku Azar also called for the swift prosecution of individuals involved in the ECG scandal, which has plunged the nation into darkness.
“Hasten the prosecution of the ECG czars whose shenanigans have plunged the nation into darkness. Accountability must be swift and certain to deter impunity and restore public trust in our institutions,” he urged.
Have a news story, press release, or opinion piece you’d like to share with our audience? We’d love to hear from you! Please reach out to us at editor@metrotvonline.com
