There is the need to ensure that illegal mining or galamsey is successfully brought to an end, without the marring of the good relations between Ghana and China.
Dr. Kweku Appiah, who prefers to be called a ‘Friend of China’ told the Ghana News Agency in an interview, in Accra, that:“ It is very important to note that illegal mining or galamsey, is not the official policy of the Government of China”, hence the need for circumspection in dealing with the issues.
“We need to look at the causes, who are involved, and what measures can be put in place so that by the time we have resolved the galamsey problem, we would also not have destroyed our good relations with China,” he said.
He said illegal mining was counter-productive by all standards, and anyone who insisted on the illegal activity had to be condemned without any reservations.
Dr. Appiah said whilst it was a known fact that some citizens of China had been arrested for indulging in illegal mining, the “galamsey” issue entailed a lot more than the involvement of the Chinese, therefore, it was important that the media reported on the entirety of the situation for the public to be thoroughly educated.
“I would plead with you, the media, to reach out to the Chinese Embassy, Chinese institutions and Chinese NGOs, so we collaborate to solve the issue,” he said.
Dr. Appiah said the most important thing to do, was to find medium and long-term solutions to the problem.”
Mr. Danny Mawuenyega, also a Friend of China, said: “In our recent interactions with the Chinese Ambassador, she has emphatically expressed her willingness to collaborate with Ghanaian authorities to bring to book Chinese citizens who flout the laws of the country.
“We think there must be a collective effort to resolve this problem.”
The media has teamed with the major stakeholders in the mining and environmental sector to rid the country of activities by illegal miners that destroy the land and pollute the water bodies.
Some Chinese citizens have since been arrested for their complicity in the illegal trade, thus bringing the spotlight on the Asian country, which is Ghana’s major development and trading partner.
The Chinese Embassy in Ghana has expressed concern about the negative publicity the country was receiving, and called for circumspection to avoid stereotyping and maligning top Chinese officials.
China-Ghana trade volume hit a historic high of US$6.6 billion in 2015, increasing by 18.2 per cent on year-on-year basis.
China’s direct financial investment in Ghana reached US$174 million, the Chinese Ambassador to Ghana, Madam Sun Bashing, disclosed last year.
At the 67th Anniversary celebration of the Founding of the People’s Republic of China, she stated that the value of China’s newly signed contracts in Ghana reached around US$1.3 billion, ranking high in Africa.
The Chinese Government also supports educational, social and cultural activities in Ghana with the awards of grants and scholarships.
Source: GNA
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So-called Friends of China(FOC) a DFI of $174 is a drop in an ocean compared to other investments China is making in other parts of Africa, as for example a $5 billion loan and investment in Angola Railway construction. How do you negotiate with a criminal in the world or an environmental terrorists? Ghana is seeing an explosive toll of unseen diseases, cancer in adults and children because of unsubscribed finishing practices by Chinese illegal finishing immigrants, and the use of banned mining chemicals like mercury, cinide and other unapproved methods in the galamesey business. By the way, for your information fishing is the preserve of the Ghanain and not for the foreign imgrants or illegal immigrants. They can't dop it, period. The Chinese Ambassador Sun Buloung should be recalled and replaced with an honest foreign relations broker. She has ruined the long established relations with the "Sino-Ghano" pact because of either her tacit approval or complacent node to the Chinese illegal "galameseyers." Its all about the stock piling of gold by China in her vaults. A true Ghanaian should place the interests of Ghana above all other considerations and not the other way round. Sun is a failed Diplomat and China will have to recall her to Belgin to save the relations. You do not negotiate with terrorists; be it on environmental or national security issues. Which man, including US citizens can go to China and destroy its water bodies, farmslands, soil all geared towards illegally exploiting for diamonds and gold? And Amb. Sun does not see anything wrong with what the Red Dragon illegal miners are doing to Ghana? Hey my fellow Ghanaians, if the British had done this to the Gold Coast, i believe the indigiens would have battled them to leave earlier than 1957. Adjei if indeed your organization called FOC and you are friends to China, then give them the right and candid advice on the harm they are doing to our environment. $174 million is next to nothing compared to the illegal gold they are extracting from Ghana without paying taxes on them. Ghana lost $2.3 billion tax revenue in 2015 alone under the morbid and corrupt ***barred word*** co-president mahama. No wonder he did not survive the wrath of the voters. The most corrupt and inept leader ever handed the fate of Ghana since its founding. Ms. Sun Buloung, you are unfit to repair the demage caused by your recalcitrant and illegal Chinese citizens here in Ghana. Ghana is not for sale. You can not do this in Communist China as a citizen nor as a visitor. They will kill you by firing squad. So why should Ghana allowed herself to be colonized by China? Wghat the Chinese illegals are doing is facism. It is bad and they must respect our laws, period. Sun and FOC, this is 2017 and globalization does not guarantee colonizing a modern state like Ghana. I believe those Red Dragonians from China found to have abused their stay must be repatraiated back to China at their own expense. It is wrong for a so-called friend to take advantage of your unassuming friend. Its a new dawn in Ghana. The era of corrupt, insensitive Mahama is gone and so is his party NDC. China, remember Gold Coast, now Ghana led the drive against British Empire from Africa and the diaspora and if China does not mend its ways on her neocolonalism in Africa, Ghana will led a African Renancience that will drive China out of Africa. China show respect to Ghana and Africa. The galamesey must end and you have an obligation to the good people of Ghana to help them reclaim the lands, desilt and remove the chemicals from the affected water bodies. No negotiation with environmental terrorists. That is it, FOC. Adjei don't be a sell out for small dollars. Ghana is more important than some dirt money.