A growing diplomatic row has erupted between Ghana and China over the contentious issue of illegal gold mining, locally known as galamsey, as both sides trade blame amid a surge in global gold prices and increasing environmental destruction.
- A diplomatic conflict has escalated between Ghana and China over illegal gold mining, known as galamsey.
- Ghana alleges Chinese nationals are strongly involved in illicit mining operations, while China’s ambassador disputes these accusations.
- The issue highlights broader questions of complicity, enforcement, and the impact on Ghana-China relations.
Ghana, Africa’s leading gold producer, has become a hotspot for illicit mining activities, with many of the operations allegedly involving Chinese nationals.
While some Ghanaians accuse Chinese actors of fuelling the crisis, China’s ambassador to Ghana, Tong Defa, has rejected the notion that the problem stems solely from Chinese nationals.
Chinese Ambassador rejects blame for illegal mining
“The issue did not originate from the Chinese,” Ambassador Tong stated in an interview with local media. “Some of those who are even caught red-handed are simply migrant workers trying to make a living.”
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He added that Chinese nationals were unable to obtain mining licences in Ghana and were typically brought in by Ghanaians who facilitated the illegal operations.
“The perception is unfair to me, personally, and to the majority of Chinese nationals here,” Tong added. “When I post on social media, comments often suggest that galamsey is entirely caused by China, which is a significant injustice.”
His comments follow several arrests, including Chinese nationals, during government crackdowns on illegal miners.
Ghana’s rivers and forests under threat
Illegal gold mining has wreaked havoc across Ghana’s Western, Ashanti and Eastern regions. Environmentalists warn that the use of toxic chemicals has polluted major rivers and degraded fertile land through rampant deforestation and soil erosion.
One of the most prominent examples of Chinese involvement is Aisha Huang, dubbed the “Galamsey Queen.” She was sentenced in 2023 to 4½ years in prison and fined US$4,000 after returning to Ghana despite a previous deportation.
China defends its broader contribution
Ambassador Tong defended China’s presence in Ghana, highlighting its investments in infrastructure.
“Chinese companies have built numerous buildings, roads and ports,” he said. “Yet, do ordinary Ghanaians truly recognise these efforts, or do they consistently associate us solely with galamsey?”
Ghanaian officials call for tougher measures
The Administrator of Ghana’s Minerals Development Fund (MDF), Hanna Louisa Bissiw, responded with a firm stance, promising zero tolerance.
“Let me be unequivocally clear: there will be no compromise on what we have to do. It’s an absolute ‘never’,” Bissiw declared. She also noted that during a recent visit to China, officials there expressed support for Ghana’s anti-galamsey efforts.
Former UN senior governance adviser Baffour Agyeman-Duah said the situation suggests complicity at immigration points.
“Most of the Chinese involved appear to be rural and not highly educated,” he said. “This implies a deliberate system is in place to recruit and move them through Ghana’s borders into mining areas.”
University of Ghana professor Gladys Nyarko Ansah criticised the ambassador’s rationale.
“Is the ambassador saying that because some Ghanaians engage in stealing, Chinese migrants in Ghana should also engage in stealing?” she asked.
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Security analyst Ndubuisi Christian Ani, from the Institute for Security Studies, said Ghana must balance its respect for China with accountability.
“Ghana tends to be lenient on arrested Chinese persons involved in illegal mining, partly because of its high regard for China,” he noted. “But criminal activities must be treated as such to avoid impunity.”
As diplomatic tensions flare, the galamsey crisis underscores deeper questions of complicity, enforcement, and geopolitical ties. While both Ghanaian and Chinese actors have roles in the problem, what remains critical is whether both governments will collaborate sincerely to root out illegal mining, or continue pointing fingers as Ghana’s land and water resources continue to suffer.
