Investigative journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni has raised concerns about selective justice in Ghana’s fight against illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey, following a police update on recent arrests.
In a brief but pointed Facebook post on Wednesday morning, Manasseh reacted to news that the Ghana Police Service had arrested 208 suspects in a nationwide anti-galamsey operation conducted between March and May 2025.
“The police say they’ve arrested 208 galamsey suspects. If they won’t prosecute the Chinese, they should free the Ghanaians,” he wrote.
His remarks come in the wake of a police statement on May 13, which revealed that among the arrested were 17 Chinese nationals, with the rest being Ghanaians and a few other foreign nationals.
The operation also led to the seizure of 99 excavators, three bulldozers, firearms, and other mining equipment across multiple regions, including the Western, Eastern, and Upper West regions.
Manasseh’s comment reflects growing public skepticism over how the law is applied in Ghana’s anti-galamsey efforts, particularly when it comes to foreign nationals—especially Chinese nationals—who are often seen as central figures in illegal mining operations but rarely face full prosecution.
In recent years, several high-profile cases involving Chinese nationals allegedly engaged in illegal mining have either stalled or ended without convictions, fueling accusations of double standards and political interference.
Manasseh, known for his anti-corruption journalism, is among the voices calling for a more transparent and equitable enforcement of the law.
His statement has since sparked a wider conversation online, with many Ghanaians expressing frustration over what they see as the lack of accountability in tackling one of the country’s most pressing environmental and socio-economic challenges.
