{"id":609090,"date":"2019-04-20T12:06:19","date_gmt":"2019-04-20T12:06:19","guid":{"rendered":"
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General News of Saturday, 20 April 2019<\/p>\n

Source: <\/strong>www.Ghanaweb.com<\/p>\n2019-04-20\n\n

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General News of Saturday, 20 April 2019<\/p>\n

Source: <\/strong>www.Ghanaweb.com<\/p>\n

2019-04-20<\/p>\n

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\"KwekuAbdul Malik Kweku Baako Jnr<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

As the backlash over recent comments by Senior Minister, Yaw Osafo-Maafo, on Aisha Huang rages on, a veteran journalist has urged him to make a public apology.<\/p>\n

Abdul Malik Kweku Baako Jnr said the best way Mr Osafo-Maafo can quell public anger over his \u201cavoidable gaffe\u201d at a public engagement in the United States would be for him to admit he made a bad call.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe should do the honourable thing\u2026and do an open apology and retraction. I am not one of those people who is calling on him to resign,\u201d the Editor-in-Chief of the New Crusading Guide newspaper said Saturday on Newsfile.<\/p>\n

He said the Senior Minister is somebody he likes and respects, however, he admits, \u201cit is difficult to defend him on this call.\u201d<\/p>\n

Addressing a town hall meeting in the United States recently, the Senior Minister sought to explain why a notorious Chinese woman, Aisha Huang, known for her exploits in illegal mining was only deported after she was arrested by state authorities.<\/p>\n

A Ghanaian participant at the event wanted the government\u2019s justification for letting go of the woman known as \u201cGalamsey Queen.\u201d<\/p>\n

Responding to the questioner, the Senior Minister said Ghana has good diplomatic relationship with China and intends to partner the Asian country in key infrastructural projects, citing the $2 billion Sinohydro deal.<\/p>\n

\u201cToday, the main company that is helping develop the infrastructure system in Ghana is Sinohydro, it is a Chinese Company. It is the one that is going to help process our bauxite and provide about $2 billion to us,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

“So, when there are these kinds of arrangements, there are other things behind the scenes. Putting that lady [Aisha] in jail in Ghana is not going to solve your economic problems,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

The response has been condemned.<\/p>\n

A prominent figure in the fight against illegal mining has described the comment as a \u201cfatal blow\u201d to ending galamsey.<\/p>\n