The Ghanaian government has announced stricter visa procedures for Chinese nationals as part of renewed efforts to curb illegal mining, widely known as galamsey. Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa disclosed the new measures on Monday, September 15, during the Government Accountability Series in Accra. He emphasized that while some Chinese nationals have been implicated in illegal mining, the Chinese government itself does not endorse such activities. “There is no official China-Ghana policy to destroy our environment,” Ablakwa said. “In fact, Beijing has been cooperating with us to track down and repatriate their nationals involved in galamsey. We have arrested, prosecuted, and will continue to do so.”
Ablakwa revealed that Ghana has deepened diplomatic engagement with China to address the issue. During his recent visit to Beijing, he said he delivered President John Dramani Mahama’s firm stance that illegal mining by foreign nationals cannot continue. As part of the reforms, Ghana’s embassy in Beijing and consulate in Guangzhou will no longer process group visa applications for Chinese nationals. Each application must now be submitted individually, a move the minister said will allow closer scrutiny of prospective visitors. The government hopes the new visa restrictions, alongside ongoing law enforcement and bilateral cooperation, will help reduce the influx of foreigners involved in illegal small-scale mining, which has been blamed for widespread environmental degradation and destruction of water bodies.
