The Ranking Member on Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee says Senior Minister, Yaw Osafo Maafo must not be hanged alone for his comments relating the deportation of a suspected notorious illegal miner, Aisha Huang.

Osafo Maafo had said at a Townhall Meeting in the UK that the prosecution of the Chinese woman for her alleged crimes would not solve Ghana’s economic problems.

Aisha Huang is known in Ghana as the ‘Galamsey Queen’

He added that Ghana and China are at the moment engaged in a barter agreement that would see Ghana benefit from some $2billion infrastructure funding.

The comments and a subsequent further clarification have courted the public’s anger, with many demanding the resignation of the Senior Minister for reducing the country to international ridicule.

But Speaking the AM Show on the Joy News channel on MultiTV Wednesday, Mr Ablakwa said Osafo Maafo merely “let the cat out of the bag.”

Okudzeto Ablakwa

“We were all suspicious when the case against her was discontinued and the Vice President was assuring that the money from China is coming,” the North Tong MP noted.

He said a nolle prosequi cannot be filed in such a high profile case without the knowledge of the President.

Illegal Mining has had adverse effects on Ghana’s land and other resources.

Roping in the Interior Ministry and the National Security Ministry for their roles in the deportation, Ablakwa said the Senior Minister cannot be hanged for speaking up and these agencies let off the hook.

“He just let the cat out of the bag,” Ablakwa insisted.

Huge Blow

The outspoken MP accused the President of double standards – talking tough on the issue of illegal mining but doing little to curb it.

He said the deportation of Aisha instead of prosecuting her is a huge blow to Ghana because “other countries will say Ghana is up to be raped. Once you dangle some carrots in front of its leaders you can have your way.”