<<Print>>

Greater Accra Regional Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Joseph Ade Coker, is proposing a rather outlandish idea that he wants the Chinese government to take up in dealing with its nationals who abuse their rights when they travel to other countries, most especially Ghana.

He wants the Chinese government to “create a compulsory exit visa for its citizens who travel to Ghana as a sign of their commitment in the fight against galamsey practices”.

“They [Chinese government] sometimes direct us to deal with their citizens who go against the laws of our country, but I know they will fight us in a silent way should we adopt such a strategy,” he said.

Chinese nationals are known to be one of the main culprits in illegal mining in Ghana.

Scores of them have been arrested in the last 18 months after the government launched a significantly more intense campaign against illegal mining than in previous years.

Despite scores of Chinese being arrested for illegal mining, President Akufo-Addo assured that Chinese nationals were not being stereotyped.

“We are not acting against Chinese. There is no anti-Chinese policy in Ghana. But we do have a quarrel with those who will get involved in this illegal mining.”

Speaking at a meeting with the Ghanaian community in China as part of his visit to that country, President Akufo-Addo said he had been able to hold frank discussions with Chinese President Xi Jinping on the matter. He further revealed that the Chinese government is fully backing the country’s uncompromising stance towards illegal mining.

Tensions over reportage

In April 2017, the Chinese mission in Ghana expressed its displeasure with the way Ghana was dealing with the issue of illegal mining.

It also criticized the media for targeting China in their reportage on the matter.

The mission in a letter addressed to John Peter Amewu, the Ghana’s Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, said if nothing changes about the nature of campaigns against illegal mining in the country, bilateral relations between Ghana and China would be affected.

NDC Regional Elections

Ade Coker, who was retained for a record third time in the NDC’s regional elections held over the weekend, dismissed suggestions during a panel discussion on UTV’s ‘Adekye Nsroma’ show, that his popularity has waned since the margin of his electoral victory compared to previous elections decreased.

“…the number of votes does not matter for now because i would as well be the winner had i won with a single vote.

“The end of the matter is that I had the greater portion of the votes amongst my other three contestants making me the winner in the race,” he pointed out.