Illegal gold mining: Ghana wants to prosecute Chinese nationals who break the law
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on MyJoyOnline
The chief executive of Ghana’s Minerals Commission, Isaac Andrews Tandoh, has called for mining laws to be strictly enforced against Chinese nationals and companies involved in illegal gold mining. According to him, a framework agreement being prepared with China is meant to help Ghana prosecute them, he said at the China-Ghana Mining Cooperation Conference, MyJoyOnline reports.
Isaac Andrews Tandoh, chief executive of Ghana’s Minerals Commission, has called for mining legislation to be strictly enforced against Chinese nationals and companies involved in illegal gold mining. He was speaking at the China-Ghana Mining Cooperation Conference 2026, MyJoyOnline reports. According to him, foreign investors must be held accountable for their actions regardless of their nationality.
He said a draft framework agreement between Ghana and China is meant to strengthen cooperation in enforcing the rules and prosecuting Chinese nationals who break them. "They will face the sanctions, and when they go back, Chinese law will also deal with them," he said. His remarks come as "galamsey", illegal artisanal gold mining, is degrading rivers and farmland.
China’s ambassador to Ghana, Cong Song, argued for a balanced approach and said that "Africa’s resources must not be used for political rivalries". The conference brought together, among others, the president of the Ghana Chamber of Mines, Frederick Attakumah. It also presented the China-Ghana Mining Skills Development Centre (CMTDC), intended to strengthen technical skills and technology transfer in the sector.
The head of the Minerals Commission had already accused Chinese nationals of illegal gold mining on 10 November.
