The Chinese government has issued a strong warning to its citizens in Ghana, advising them to refrain from engaging in illegal mining activities amid Ghana’s worsening galamsey crisis. The illegal mining practices, known locally as galamsey, have severely polluted the country’s water bodies and forest reserves, escalating environmental and social concerns.
In recent weeks, the Ghana Water Company has highlighted a growing water crisis, attributing the contamination of key water sources to the rise in illegal mining activities. As the country searches for solutions, Chinese Ambassador to Ghana, Tong Defa, acknowledged the involvement of some Chinese nationals in these unlawful activities but reaffirmed China’s stance against such behavior.
“I know there are some Chinese involved in this illegal mining, but we discourage them,” Ambassador Tong said in a recent discussion with journalists. He also referenced a meeting in 2018 between President Akufo-Addo and Chinese President Xi Jinping, where China’s position on illegal mining in Ghana was made clear. “I accompanied President Akufo-Addo to Beijing when he met our President in 2018. Our President told him that ‘if any Chinese committed any illegal sins here in Ghana, you should hold them accountable to your laws.’ So we discourage Chinese people from doing this illegal mining,” Tong reiterated.
The severity of the galamsey crisis was underscored when the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) in the Central Region announced potential water supply disruptions in Cape Coast, Elmina, and surrounding areas. The company attributed the issue to inadequate raw water at the Sekyere Hemang Water Treatment Plant, a direct result of pollution from illegal mining.
Environmental organizations, civil society groups, and concerned citizens have voiced their frustrations over the slow progress in addressing the galamsey problem. Calls for stronger enforcement measures and action against those involved continue to grow.
In a related development, Organized Labour issued a warning to the government on Wednesday, threatening to initiate a nationwide strike by the end of September if decisive measures are not taken to tackle the escalating crisis.
