Tong Defa, the Chinese Ambassador to Ghana, has refuted prevailing views that Chinese nationals are predominantly responsible for unlawful small-scale mining, also known as galamsey.
Speaking to the media on Friday, June 20, Ambassador Defa stated that the issue of illegal mining in Ghana did not begin from China, and that Chinese people participating are often migrant workers brought in by Ghanaians.
According to him, Chinese persons lack the legal capacity to get mining permits on their own and are frequently lured into the nation by Ghanaians who enable their participation in the illegal mining activity.
He also advocated for a national, long-term policy framework to address illegal mining and its environmental consequences, emphasizing that reactive, short-term solutions would not fix the problem.
"I don't know why people associate galamsey with the Chinese. However, it is not Chinese. The problem does not originate with the Chinese.
I mean, you can see those mines, and the Chinese cannot obtain a license. Ghanaians are the ones that bring Chinese individuals here, and the Chinese who are caught red-handed are simply migrant laborers trying to make a living.
"We should collaborate across all sectors and policies to develop a long-term solution to the problem of pollution in water bodies and forests. We must find a solution to address this issue in this country.
According to my understanding, the little mines can never be removed. "These small mines involve illegal activities," he said.
