Chinese Ambassador to Ghana, Tong Defa has admonished Ghanaian law enforcement agencies to punish Chinese nationals caught involving themselves in illegal small-scale mining popularly termed as “galamsey”.

According to the diplomat, the People’s Republic of China has built a strong diplomatic tie with Ghana and would continue to further build on the enviable relationship but has agreed to use local laws to punish citizens who fall foul of laws that govern the two countries.

“We want to do more things between our two countries. We want to bring our countries together. Also, we need to safeguard Chinese citizens' rights here in Ghana, but we always request Chinese nationals to do the right thing,” – H.E Tong Defa shared while interacting with some selected journalists and civil society organizations at his residence on Thursday, September 12, 2024.

“There are some Chinese, not all Chinese – that are involved in illegal small-scale mining in Ghana,” H.E Defa affirmed. The Ambassador, however, shared that the embassy discourages Chinese nationals from involving themselves in illegal small-scale mining or any other action that contravenes the laws of Ghana.

He disclosed that President Xi Jinping of China had, in 2018, implored the President of Ghana, Nana Akufo-Addo to use local laws in dealing with Chinese nationals found culpable of breaching laws in Ghana. “We support the rule of law and so we discourage Chinese nationals from breaking the law.”

The fight against illegal small-scale mining has resurfaced after Ghana Water Limited came out crying over difficulties it has been facing in accessing and purifying water to be distributed into homes, particularly in some galamsey-prone communities in Ghana. There have subsequently been calls by associations and groups, with some threatening strike actions, to force the President to, with immediate effect, issue a state of emergency on illegal small-scale mining in Ghana.

Heeding partially to the calls, the government has directed security services, the police and the military to locate illegal mining sites and evacuate all illegal miners. A similar directive or action has proved to be futile in the past.

Although acts of illegal small-scale mining are predominantly orchestrated by Ghanaians, people of other nationalities have also been found culpable including some Chinese despite the existence of laws prohibiting such.

Meanwhile, Defa argues that the picture should not be painted as if the crime of illegal small-scale mining in Ghana is solely committed by Chinese nationals.

According to Defa, the Chinese government is very particular about this issue of illegal small-scale mining.

He disclosed the Chinese government cooperated with the Ghanaian government in an attempt to help discourage Chinese involvement in illegal small-scale mining but said the government of Ghana should not hesitate to punish any Chinese national found to be involved in galamsey.