The Chinese Ambassador to Ghana, Tong Defa, has stated that illegal small-scale mining, commonly known as galamsey, cannot be completely eradicated from Ghana’s extractive landscape. Instead, he is urging the government and stakeholders to adopt a long-term policy framework that addresses the root causes of environmental degradation linked to the activity.
Addressing the media, Ambassador Defa called for a pragmatic, multi-sectoral solution that takes into account the realities on the ground.
“To my understanding, you can never eliminate those small mines. These small mines have illegal activities involved in them,” he said.
He stressed the need for a national consensus on how to reduce the pollution of rivers and forests caused by unregulated mining.
“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,” he added.
Ambassador Defa also rejected perceptions that Chinese nationals are solely responsible for the illegal mining menace. He maintained that while some Chinese nationals may be involved, they often operate under arrangements facilitated by local actors.
“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 to make a living,” he stated.
The government has ramped up national efforts to combat illegal mining, which continues to pollute major water bodies and degrade forest reserves across the country.
In their quest for gold, small-scale miners dig around riverbanks in forest zones and flush the soil with water to uncover ore. They then rely on hazardous substances such as mercury and cyanide to extract the gold—chemicals that ultimately seep into rivers relied on by hundreds of communities for drinking and everyday household needs.
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