Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has announced sweeping changes to visa application procedures for Chinese nationals as part of renewed measures to combat illegal mining, locally known as galamsey.
Speaking at the Government Accountability Series on Monday, 15th September, Mr. Ablakwa reaffirmed Ghana’s longstanding and cordial relations with China but stressed that unlawful activities by a minority of individuals would not be condoned.
“We have very great relations with China and, to be fair to the Chinese, a lot of them are doing good business, they are investing in transformative projects,” he said. “There is no official Chinese government policy to come and destroy our environment.”
The Minister, however, acknowledged that a small but persistent number of Chinese nationals have been implicated in illegal mining operations — a matter of growing national concern.
During his recent official visit to China, Mr. Ablakwa travelled to Guangxi province, which he described as “notorious” for sending nationals to Ghana to engage in galamsey. In a high-level meeting in Nanning, he said he delivered an unambiguous message on behalf of President John Mahama.
“I did not mince words at all. I really stated President Mahama’s position that this cannot continue,” he stressed.
Following those discussions, Ghana’s embassy in Beijing and consulate in Guangzhou have rolled out stricter visa protocols. Effective immediately, group visa applications from Chinese nationals will no longer be accepted.
“That’s the new policy. Everybody must show up for an interview… if you are coming for a conference, an excursion, whatever — you must all produce yourselves individually and apply individually,” the Minister declared. “There is a strict directive: no more group processing of visas.”
Mr. Ablakwa emphasised that the policy shift is part of a broader government clampdown on illegal mining.
“I can assure you that we are dealing with this matter very fairly, in our national interest. Because this galamsey menace is really a menace that all of us must confront,” he said.
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