Information Minister Kojo Oppong Nkrumah has insisted that notorious Chinese illegal mining kingpin, Aisha Huang was repatriated from Ghana in December 2018.

He clarified that a repatriation order or note was issued to this effect.

According to Mr Nkurmah, the 'galamsey' queen was put on a flight and she exited the Ghanaian jurisdiction.

He made these comments while clarifying President Akufo-Addo’s comment about his uncertainty regarding how ‘galamsey’ kingpin exited the country in 2018.

The President in an interview at a Ho-based radio station on Monday, as part of his tour of the Volta Region, said "I’m not still sure whether she was in fact deported. Or whether she fled the country the first time and has now come back. There still seems to be some uncertainty about it.

“But whichever way it is, she’s become the sort of nickname for all that galamsey represents”, the President said.

President Akufo-Addo has since been severely criticised for his comment which has been described, among others, as a “mockery” of the security architecture.

Speaking on Top Story, the Minister said the President’s comment was a direct response to the particular question he was asked.

“The President was not speaking in a vacuum. There was a question about deportation and the President proceeded to respond that he is not too sure whether it is about deportation or whether she fled but then the substantive thing is this and then he proceeded to provide the substantive answer.