Latest news with #TongDefa
Gulf Insider
05-08-2025
- Politics
- Gulf Insider
Plunder Of Ghana's Gold By Chinese Criminals Continues
JOHANNESBURG—Thousands of Chinese citizens remain in Ghana to mine gold illegally, despite a crackdown by authorities in Africa's largest producer of the precious metal, according to law enforcement agencies in the capital, Accra. They say the illegal miners appear to be taking advantage of the record-high gold price, which hit $3,500 in April, with much of the illicit metal being smuggled back to crime groups, sometimes headed by what appear to be Chinese businesspeople, are flooding Ghana with sophisticated machinery to mine gold at scales never seen before in some areas, resulting in widespread environmental damage and fueling unemployment, according to one expert who recently spoke to The Epoch Times. According to several analysts, Chinese involvement in illegal mining in Ghana and across Africa reveals Beijing's real motive for its increasingly strong presence on the continent: to exploit Africa's natural resources. With Ghana's police now often arresting Chinese citizens accused of stealing gold, relations between President John Mahama's administration and Beijing are strained. Ghanaian officials have said the Chinese regime isn't doing enough to prevent its nationals from committing crimes in one of West Africa's strongest economies. But China's ambassador in Ghana is accusing locals of 'galamsey,' as it's known in the region, or small-scale illegal gold mining, and of drawing Chinese workers to Africa. 'The Chinese who are getting arrested are migrant workers who have come here to make a living,' Chinese Ambassador Tong Defa told The Epoch Times. Grace Ansah-Akrofi, director of the Ghana Police Service's Public Affairs, has a different view. 'While there are cases like those mentioned by the ambassador, it's a bit far-fetched to say that it's Ghanaian masterminds who are importing Chinese to commit crimes,' she told The Epoch Times. 'We have our own people who are desperate enough to commit crimes. 'Our criminals are not going to call on [the] Chinese to do their work. It doesn't make sense.' Click here to read moreAlso read: Saudi EV Buyers Have Tesla As Choice – How Soon Before More Chinese Brands Join In?
Business Insider
01-07-2025
- Politics
- Business Insider
Ghana and China trade blame as tensions rise over surging galamsey activities
A growing diplomatic row has erupted between Ghana and China over the contentious issue of illegal gold mining, locally known as galamsey, as both sides trade blame amid a surge in global gold prices and increasing environmental destruction. A diplomatic conflict has escalated between Ghana and China over illegal gold mining, known as galamsey. Ghana alleges Chinese nationals are strongly involved in illicit mining operations, while China's ambassador disputes these accusations. The issue highlights broader questions of complicity, enforcement, and the impact on Ghana-China relations. Ghana, Africa's leading gold producer, has become a hotspot for illicit mining activities, with many of the operations allegedly involving Chinese nationals. While some Ghanaians accuse Chinese actors of fuelling the crisis, China's ambassador to Ghana, Tong Defa, has rejected the notion that the problem stems solely from Chinese nationals. Chinese Ambassador rejects blame for illegal mining 'The issue did not originate from the Chinese,' Ambassador Tong stated in an interview with local media. 'Some of those who are even caught red-handed are simply migrant workers trying to make a living.' He added that Chinese nationals were unable to obtain mining licences in Ghana and were typically brought in by Ghanaians who facilitated the illegal operations. 'The perception is unfair to me, personally, and to the majority of Chinese nationals here,' Tong added. 'When I post on social media, comments often suggest that galamsey is entirely caused by China, which is a significant injustice.' His comments follow several arrests, including Chinese nationals, during government crackdowns on illegal miners. Ghana's rivers and forests under threat Illegal gold mining has wreaked havoc across Ghana's Western, Ashanti and Eastern regions. Environmentalists warn that the use of toxic chemicals has polluted major rivers and degraded fertile land through rampant deforestation and soil erosion. One of the most prominent examples of Chinese involvement is Aisha Huang, dubbed the 'Galamsey Queen.' She was sentenced in 2023 to 4½ years in prison and fined US$4,000 after returning to Ghana despite a previous deportation. China defends its broader contribution Ambassador Tong defended China's presence in Ghana, highlighting its investments in infrastructure. 'Chinese companies have built numerous buildings, roads and ports,' he said. 'Yet, do ordinary Ghanaians truly recognise these efforts, or do they consistently associate us solely with galamsey?' Ghanaian officials call for tougher measures The Administrator of Ghana's Minerals Development Fund (MDF), Hanna Louisa Bissiw, responded with a firm stance, promising zero tolerance. 'Let me be unequivocally clear: there will be no compromise on what we have to do. It's an absolute 'never',' Bissiw declared. She also noted that during a recent visit to China, officials there expressed support for Ghana's anti-galamsey efforts. Former UN senior governance adviser Baffour Agyeman-Duah said the situation suggests complicity at immigration points. 'Most of the Chinese involved appear to be rural and not highly educated,' he said. 'This implies a deliberate system is in place to recruit and move them through Ghana's borders into mining areas.' University of Ghana professor Gladys Nyarko Ansah criticised the ambassador's rationale. 'Is the ambassador saying that because some Ghanaians engage in stealing, Chinese migrants in Ghana should also engage in stealing?' she asked. Security analyst Ndubuisi Christian Ani, from the Institute for Security Studies, said Ghana must balance its respect for China with accountability. 'Ghana tends to be lenient on arrested Chinese persons involved in illegal mining, partly because of its high regard for China,' he noted. 'But criminal activities must be treated as such to avoid impunity.' As diplomatic tensions flare, the galamsey crisis underscores deeper questions of complicity, enforcement, and geopolitical ties. While both Ghanaian and Chinese actors have roles in the problem, what remains critical is whether both governments will collaborate sincerely to root out illegal mining, or continue pointing fingers as Ghana's land and water resources continue to suffer.
South China Morning Post
30-06-2025
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Ghana at loggerheads with China over rampant illegal gold mining
China and Ghana Africa's largest gold producer, are embroiled in a diplomatic row over the rampant problem of illegal gold mining, known as 'galamsey'. As global gold prices soar, a growing number of Chinese firms are investing billions of dollars in Ghana's lucrative gold sector. However, the alleged involvement of Chinese nationals in illicit mining operations has ignited major debate It has prompted the Chinese ambassador to Ghana, Tong Defa, to push back against accusations that Chinese nationals are solely to blame for the illegal mining activity. He said Chinese nationals could not obtain local mining licences and were often brought in by Ghanaians who facilitated the illegal mining operations. 'The issue did not originate from the Chinese. Some of those who are even caught red-handed are simply migrant workers trying to make a living,' Tong told local media in Ghana last week. He said the 'perception is unfair to me, personally, and to the majority of Chinese nationals here'.
The Star
16-06-2025
- Health
- The Star
China donates medical equipment, supplies to Ghanaian hospital
ACCRA, June 16 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese government, through its 14th medical team to Ghana and in collaboration with the local Chinese business community, on Monday donated a range of medical equipment and supplies to Lekma Hospital in Accra, Ghana's capital, to enhance healthcare services. The donation, including ultrasound devices, transducers, surgical instruments, and other medical tools, is expected to boost the hospital's diagnostic and treatment capacity. Chinese Ambassador to Ghana Tong Defa described the gesture as another concrete support and action of love from the Chinese government and people to Ghana. "Healthcare cooperation is one of the key areas in China-Ghana relations. China is pleased to see that, through joint efforts, both sides have achieved fruitful results in epidemic prevention and control, vaccine rollout, and public health capacity building," Tong said at the donation ceremony. Ghana's Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh welcomed the donation as another shining example of the Ghana-China collaboration and "an enduring testament to the strength of our partnership." Akandoh lauded the Chinese government for sending 14 medical teams to Ghana since 2009. As Ghana seeks to achieve universal health coverage by 2030, the minister said cooperation with China remains vital. "When we talk about herbal medicine, innovation, infrastructure, and financing facilities, it is China that comes to mind," he said. Yang Yongguang, head of the 14th Chinese medical team to Ghana, said, "We stand ready to deepen the China-Ghana health cooperation through technology and resources, working hand-in-hand to forge a broad path towards health for all and shared prosperity."
