NPP man blocked from asking Akufo-Addo questions resigns

The former Deputy Secretary of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) at the California chapter USA, Mr Solomon Owusu has resigned from the party.

Mr Owusu says he took the decision in consultation with his family.

“I believe my resignation will not have significant impact in the party but I think it will be conflicting to remain in the party henceforth, as I have decided to criticise the NPP government on matters that negatively affect the citizens of the nation,” he said in his letter of resignation.

Mr Owusu who had earlier at a forum at Princeton University in the United States of America asked President Akufo-Addo about the arrest and deportation of Aisha Huang recently said he was prevented by the president’s bodyguards from participating in another forum held in New Jersey.

Mr Owusu said he had 10 questions to ask the president during the first encounter but was unable to do so, as such, registered to participate in the second forum at Rutgers University, New Jersey.

According to him, he applied online, got approval and his conference code was sent to him but upon arrival at the venue, he was allegedly told by persons believed to be the president's bodyguards that he could not enter the conference room without any reason.

"Macho men from Ghana told me they have been instructed not to allow me to enter the conference hall. I asked why and they were bossy… so I told them F you; you're in the United States and not in Ghana... you can't bring that bush life here," he explained in a video.

Mr Owusu believes he was prevented from participating in the forum because of the Aisha Huang question.

Nana Akufo-Addo answering the Aisha Huang question said, his government’s decision to deport the Chinese national after her involvement in illegal mining in Ghana was a mistake.

“I think the decision to deport Aisha Huang in hindsight was a mistake and that is why that process and procedure is being stopped,” Nana Akufo-Addo said.

Aisha Huang nicknamed as the galamsey queen was arrested in May 2017.

She had been charged with three counts of undertaking small-scale mining operations, contrary to Section 99 (1) of the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703); providing mining support services without valid registration with the Minerals Commission, contrary to the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703), and the illegal employment of foreign nationals, contrary to the Immigration Act, 2000 (Act 573).

During the prosecution, the government discontinued the case and deported her in December 2018.