Rescind your decision to represent Aisha Huang's accomplices - AFFA to Freddie Blay

The Alliance For Footsoldiers Advocacy (AFFA) is scandalized and dumbfounded by the decision of Freddie Blay, immediate-past National Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), to represent some suspected Chinese illegal miners standing trial. As much as we appreciate the fact that Freddie Blay is a lawyer who has a fiduciary duty to represent clients who request his services, we believe his decision to defend accomplices of Aisha Huang is unpopular, morally subversive, and a direct slap on the face of President Akufo-Addo's fight against illegal mining. Freddie Blay's political status, vis-à-vis the former National Chairman of the ruling party and Board Chairman of GNPC, imposes a tacit obligation of due diligence, moral reflection, and the principle of public perception on him, considering the level of public interest in the Aisha Huang case. Indeed, the level of environmental degradation caused by activities of illegal mining, particularly by foreign nationals who have no regard for the laws of Ghana on mining, cannot be overemphasized. AFFA is, by this press release calling on Mr. Blay to, as a matter of urgency, cease holding himself as a lawyer for the suspected Chinese illegal miners. We further call on other lawyers and non-lawyers who identify themselves with the NPP to be circumspect with their actions and inactions on the subject of GALAMSEY in order not to give credence to the perception that elements of the government are the main architects behind the menace. We call on politicians, chiefs, security services, civil society organizations, residents of mining communities, and the general public to support President Akufo-Addo's unparalleled determination to crack the whip on illegal miners to safeguard our land and water bodies.

The Alliance For Footsoldiers Advocacy (AFFA) is scandalized and dumbfounded by the decision of Freddie Blay, immediate-past National Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), to represent some suspected Chinese illegal miners standing trial. As much as we appreciate the fact that Freddie Blay is a lawyer who has a fiduciary duty to represent clients who request his services, we believe his decision to defend accomplices of Aisha Huang is unpopular, morally subversive, and a direct slap on the face of President Akufo-Addo's fight against illegal mining. Freddie Blay's political status, vis-à-vis the former National Chairman of the ruling party and Board Chairman of GNPC, imposes a tacit obligation of due diligence, moral reflection, and the principle of public perception on him, considering the level of public interest in the Aisha Huang case. Indeed, the level of environmental degradation caused by activities of illegal mining, particularly by foreign nationals who have no regard for the laws of Ghana on mining, cannot be overemphasized. AFFA is, by this press release calling on Mr. Blay to, as a matter of urgency, cease holding himself as a lawyer for the suspected Chinese illegal miners. We further call on other lawyers and non-lawyers who identify themselves with the NPP to be circumspect with their actions and inactions on the subject of GALAMSEY in order not to give credence to the perception that elements of the government are the main architects behind the menace. We call on politicians, chiefs, security services, civil society organizations, residents of mining communities, and the general public to support President Akufo-Addo's unparalleled determination to crack the whip on illegal miners to safeguard our land and water bodies.