Ghana arrests 161 Chinese suspected of illegally mining gold – deportations in process

Chinese citizens arrested earlier this week for illegal gold mining in Ghana are to be deported, a spokesman for the country’s immigration service said last night.

Ghanaian authorities raided areas near mines where Chinese live and detained 161 people, the Chinese Embassy in Accra said on its website. They are suspected of illegally mining gold in the resource-rich West African country.

Reports of Chinese workers being caught by Ghanaian authorities on suspicion of such activities have surfaced in recent years.

China wants to show that its activities overseas are legal and environmentally responsible while maintaining the security and rights of its citizens abroad.

A responsible official from China’s embassy in Ghana has already made representations with high-level officials in the West African country while advising Chinese citizens in Ghana to respect local laws and not do anything illegal.

Ghana is Africa’s second biggest gold producer after South Africa, and continues to experience rapid economic growth.

Source: Agencies