Growing Civil Society Anger in Ghana About the Government’s Perceived Double Standard in How It Treats Chinese “Galamsey”

There’s growing frustration in Ghana over the government’s apparent refusal to crack down on Chinese participation in illegal gold mining, a practice known locally as galamsey. This is an issue that’s been simmering for years, but recently activists and commentators have become much more vocal in denouncing the national government for failing to act to protect the environment and the rights of Ghanaian workers.

Two Angry Views on the Ghanaian Government’s Refusal to Crack Down on Chinese Illegal Miners:

• KWAKU BADU, MODERN GHANA COLUMNIST: “Careless Chinese illegal miners end up violating the laws which govern the small scale mining sector… The overarching question then is: Why are the regulators (the Ghana Minerals Commission and other bodies) refusing to keep a close eye on the illegal activities of the unpatriotic Ghanaians and their foreign minions, many of whom are bent on destroying the environment?” (READ MORE)

• KWAME ASARE-OBENG, POLITICAL ACTIVIST: “Just last week China exported cocoa beans and these Chinese people come to your country, cut down cocoa trees in search of gold, put dangerous chemicals in your water and your soil, your land, destroy it and go and plant cocoa in their country… Tell me one Ghanaian who can cut a cocoa tree in China and walk free. They will behead you. What kind of human beings are we?” (READ MORE)

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The post Growing Civil Society Anger in Ghana About the Government’s Perceived Double Standard in How It Treats Chinese “Galamsey” appeared first on The China Africa Project.

source https://chinaafricaproject.com/2021/04/22/growing-civil-society-anger-in-ghana-about-the-governments-perceived-double-standard-in-how-it-treats-chinese-galamsey/