Accuse Ghanaians of assisting and protecting Chinese illegal miners – Ambassador

General News on Friday, April 19th, 2019

Source: Myjoyonline.com

2019-04-19

The Chinese Ambbadador to Ghana has accused Ghanaians of helping and protecting Chinese nationals from illegal mining activities, locally known as "galamsey".

Shi Ting Wang asked how foreigners could determine gold deposits without the support of indigenous peoples.

The ambbadador reacted to the participation of Chinese nationals in illegal mining activities after a speech at a conference organized by the Confucius Institute of the University of Cape Coast (UCC).

"We also recognize the problem with Galamsey, but we want to make it clear that the Chinese government will not tolerate any national of this country in an illegal act.

"We support your government in its fight against Galamsey and we would like to work with you. However, this issue is very complicated, I think that some local people have provided protection and support to the Chinese people. "

Ting Wang says that the Chinese will not succeed in Galamsey without the support of Ghanaians.

He hopes the two governments will work together to find the root cause of the chancre.

"We are always ready to work together to stop small-scale illegal mining in the country," he said.

His remarks follow the words of the Prime Minister who justified the decision not to pursue the lawsuit against a Chinese national who brazenly engaged in illegal mining despite several warnings.

Yaw Osafo Maafo said that the imprisonment of Aisha Huang, nicknamed "Galamsey Queen," would not have solved Ghana's economic problems.

Miss Aisha was brought to court on May 9, 2017 for taking part in galamsey activities in Bepotenten in the central district of Amansie, in the Ashanti region.

Subsequently, the Attorney General's Office in December 2018 filed the case against her and four other Chinese nationals suspected of engaging in illegal mining activities. They were hastily repatriated to their country.

Speaking at a public meeting abroad, Osafo Maafo said that Ghana had good diplomatic relations with China and had the intention to accompany them in projects. 39 key infrastructure, evoking the $ 2 billion deal signed Sinohydro.

"Today, the main company that contributes to the development of the infrastructure system in Ghana is Sinohydro, it is a Chinese company. It's the one that will help us deal with our bauxite and provide us with about $ 2 billion, "he said.