Don’t blame us, It's Ghanaians who draw Chinese people into galamsey– Chinese Ambassador

The Chinese Ambassador to Ghana, H.E. Tong Defa, has firmly pushed back against claims that Chinese nationals are the main culprits behind illegal small-scale mining, popularly known in Ghana as galamsey.

Speaking at a press engagement on Friday, June 20, Ambassador Defa stated that while some Chinese individuals have been caught engaging in illegal mining activities, the problem is largely rooted in local facilitation.

He emphasised that Chinese nationals do not have the legal authority to acquire mining licenses in Ghana and are often brought into the country by Ghanaian sponsors who enable their involvement in the sector.

“I do not know the reason why, when people say galamsey, they normally equate that to the Chinese. But actually, it is not Chinese. The issue does not originate from the Chinese. I mean, you can see those mining, the Chinese cannot get the license. It is the Ghanaian people who draw Chinese people over here, and the Chinese who are caught red-handed are just migrant workers who have come here and make a living,” he explained.

Ambassador Defa called for a comprehensive and sustainable approach to address the environmental and social impacts of illegal mining.

He expressed concern over the pollution of waterbodies and the degradation of forests, noting that sporadic crackdowns and short-term interventions would be insufficient to tackle the problem.

“All the sectors, all the policies, we should work for a long-term policy on how to solve the problem to eliminate this pollution in waterbodies and in the forests. We should find a way to solve this problem in this country. To my understanding, you can never eliminate those small mines. These small mines have illegal activities involved in them,” he said.

The ambassador’s remarks come amid renewed national debate over the role of foreign nationals, particularly the Chinese, in illegal mining operations across the country.

His comments highlight the complexity of the issue and the need for multi-stakeholder solutions that go beyond blaming foreign actors.

Ambassador Defa reaffirmed China’s willingness to support Ghana in crafting lasting solutions that preserve the environment while respecting the rule of law.