The Chinese Ambassador to Ghana, Tong Defa, has called on Ghanaians to refrain from blaming Chinese nationals indiscriminately for the surge in illegal small-scale mining, popularly known as galamsey.
Addressing the press on Friday, June 20, 2025, the ambassador urged for a more balanced and evidence-based conversation on the issue.
He emphasised that while some Chinese individuals may have been involved in illegal mining operations in the past, it is unjust and unproductive to generalize the actions of a few to an entire nation.
He said “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.”
The ambassador’s comments come amid renewed public concern over the environmental destruction caused by galamsey, including polluted rivers, deforestation, and loss of farmland.
Chinese nationals have frequently been spotlighted in media reports and public discourse, often portrayed as central figures in these operations.
However, Tong Defa pointed out that the Chinese government has always supported Ghana’s efforts to combat illegal mining and has taken steps to discourage its citizens from engaging in such activities abroad.
“”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 stated.
He also highlighted recent collaborations between the two countries aimed at strengthening environmental governance and sustainable development.
Ghanaian officials have also acknowledged that galamsey is primarily fueled by local demand and networks, with some traditional authorities, political figures, and business interests complicit in enabling the illegal mining trade.
