The founder and leader of the United Progressive Party (UPP) says the country is on autopilot following the return of Chinese galamsey kingpin, Aisha Huang.

Akwasi Addai Odike said President Akufo-Addo is not in charge of the affairs of the state.

According to him, the President cannot be trusted to stop galamsey in the country.

“Do we call this man [Akufo/Addo] a president? He is not in charge. I saw Aisha Huang at the airport when she was about to be deported on TV. And now the President claims he is unsure whether the lady was deported.

“It tells us that the President is not in charge of the affairs of this country. The country is on autopilot. When you wake up, thank your God that you are alive because we do not have a leader.”

He added that Aisha Huang is not in police custody, as has been reported.

Mr Odike added that nothing will come out of the latest prosecution of the suspect.

“Akufo-Addo coming out to support the Attorney-General for the prosecution of Aisha Huang means nothing. Let’s see how it unfolds, we are only going to have her back at the galamsey site.

“I can tell you on authority now that Aisha Huang is living comfortably. She is not in the grip of the police. She is at the BNI headquarters, living a very good life.

"From all indications of his presidency so far, he is incompetent. The chiefs are no better, they are also accomplices to galamsey,” he said in an interview with Accra-based Citi TV on Tuesday, September 13.

Mr Odike's comments come on the back of President Akufo-Addo’s comments that he is unsure if the accused was deported when initially arrested in 2017.

The President, in an interview on a Ho-based radio station on Monday, September 12, as part of his tour of the Volta Region, said he is not sure about how Aisha Huang left the country.

“I’m still not 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.

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

Meanwhile, she [Aisha Huang] is expected to appear before an Accra High Court today, Wednesday, September 14.