Former National Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Freddie Blay says he has no challenges defending the four accomplices of Aisha Huang via his law firm.
He says he feels good about it because it indicates that there is rule of law in the country. He was speaking on Accra-based Joy FM.
Meanhwile, Blay & Associates, the law firm belong to former National Chairman of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) Freddie Blay, has explained its decision to defend four accomplices of Aisha Huang, who was arrested for her alleged involvement in illegal small-scale mining, in court.
On Tuesday, October 11, it came to light in court that Blay & Associates is representing the suspects.
This attracted flak from persons including Director of Legal Affairs of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Abraham Amaliba, who indicated that “On this matter of ‘galamsey’, considering the fact that there are accusations and fingers pointing at government officials to be complicit in this ‘galamsey’ issue, if you have government lawyers, already Nkrabeah Effah Dartey is known to be connected with the NPP, now to have the immediate past Chairman of the NPP joining forces to defend these ‘galamseyers’, it gives the impression that yes government, as it were, is not interested in fighting the menace”.
But in a statement responding to these concerns, Blay & Associates said: “It has come to our attention that there has been some misconceptions and the deliberate misconstruction of our decision to represent our clients in the case of the Republic Vs Shi Yang, Shi Meizhi, Li Wei Zuo and another (Our Client), we as a firm will like to clarify these issues.
BLAY • ASSOCIATES
“To us, it would seem that our clients are collateral victims of a matter that is of great national concern. We understand the deep seated anger and sentiment on any story on illegal mining evokes in Ghanaians. Even worse is when those accused are foreign nationals because of the extensive degradation and pollution of water bodies laid at their door steps.
“At Blay & Associates however, we believe in the inviolability of the judicial system. Blay & Associates is a firm that seeks to promote justice, ensure fair trial and seek to give fair representation.
“We as firm believers in our great 1992 Constitution of Ghana agreed to defend these clients having in mind these principles.”