The Chinese Embassy in Ghana has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the country’s ongoing fight against illegal mining, commonly known as galamsey.
Speaking at a training workshop on “Green Mining: Best Practices for Responsible Reporting” organised by the Ghana News Agency at Peduase on Thursday, December 11, Chinese Ambassador to Ghana, Tong Defa, called for a more determined national approach to tackling the menace.
He emphasised that both government and citizens must treat the galamsey issue with the seriousness it deserves. The three-day dialogue is designed to equip journalists with a better understanding of the complexities of the Ghana-China partnership in the mining sector.
However, the Ambassador lamented that media coverage often disproportionately focuses on isolated incidents involving a few individuals.
“For us, we support the Ghanaian government to tackle this problem. As I have reiterated many times in this country, Ghanaians must take the galamsey issue seriously. If you do not take it seriously, there is no simple way out. We want to reiterate that the Chinese should do things legally,” he said.
“Sometimes, I feel it is a little unfair. I admit that a tiny number of Chinese are involved in illegal mining in this country. But those isolated incidents often dominate news coverage. On the other hand, hundreds of Chinese companies are doing business here responsibly in all sectors, contributing significantly to social and economic development and creating jobs for local people.”
The Ambassador was categorical in affirming China’s official stance on citizens involved in illegal activities abroad, confirming that Beijing supports Accra’s efforts to address the deep-rooted galamsey problem.
“The Chinese government consistently requires Chinese nationals overseas to abide by the laws and regulations of their host countries, resolutely opposes any illegal activities of Chinese citizens abroad, and supports the Ghanaian government in its efforts to tackle galamsey, which has a long history and is very complicated,” he said.
He further highlighted the role of legitimate Chinese enterprises engaged in sustainable mining and corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities, which often go unreported.
“Several large companies are conducting sustainable mining and social projects in local communities, but they do not receive media coverage. I appeal to our media friends to report comprehensively and objectively about China, to highlight positive stories, and to give the Ghanaian public the full picture. This will help nurture the good friendship between our two countries,” he added.
The Ambassador’s appeal comes amid heightened tension surrounding galamsey, which has severely degraded Ghana’s water bodies and large areas of cocoa and farmland. Despite these challenges, Ghana’s economic partnership with China remains central to the country’s development agenda.
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