Foreign Minister and North Tongu MP Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has stressed that while Ghana values its strong relations with China, the government will not compromise on tackling the growing menace of illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey.
Speaking at his Government Accountability Series, Ablakwa noted that many Chinese businesses in Ghana are operating legitimately and contributing positively.
“We have very great relations with China, and to be fair to the Chinese, a lot of them are doing good business. They are investing in transformative projects,” he said.
However, he was emphatic that Beijing has no official policy to support illegal mining. “There is no official China government policy to come and destroy our environment and they have made that clear any time we have engaged with officials in Beijing.
They have been supporting us to get rid of their nationals who come in. As you do know, we have been cracking down, arresting them, prosecuting them, and we will continue with the arrests and prosecutions.”
Ablakwa disclosed that during his recent trip to China, he visited Guangxi Province, particularly the city of Nanning, a place identified as a hub for individuals who often find their way into Ghana to engage in galamsey.
“I met with the governor, the city authorities, and Director Asia is here, he can confirm that in that meeting, I did not mince words at all.
“I really stated President Mahama’s position that this cannot continue. We welcome good investors to come partner with us and transform our economy, but we will not accept you sending your nationals here to engage in galamsey,” he recounted.
