Illegal Mining also known as Galamsey in Ghana: Deportation of Chinese nationals at Kotoka International Airport in Accra make headlines and spark joy among some Ghanaians on social media.
The footage, shared by Adom FM on X, shows the individuals being escorted through the airport, marking another chapter in Ghana’s ongoing battle against the environmental devastation caused by unregulated mining. This operation reflects the government’s commitment to protecting its natural resources and addressing the widespread pollution of rivers and forests linked to these activities.
VIDEO: Illegal Mining/Galamsey in Ghana: Deportation of Chinese Nationals Underway
Deportation of Chinese nationals who were arrested for engaging in illegal mining operations in Ghana, currently underway at the Kotoka International Airport. pic.twitter.com/FRdnbhVLLt
— SIKAOFFICIAL🦍 (@SIKAOFFICIAL1) March 7, 2025
Illegal mining, or galamsey, has long plagued Ghana, with foreign nationals, particularly from China, implicated in exploiting the country’s gold reserves without proper authorization. According to The Guardian, over 4,500 Chinese nationals were deported in 2013 alone for similar offenses, highlighting a recurring challenge.
The current deportations underscore the persistence of this issue, driven by the lucrative nature of gold mining and the difficulty in enforcing regulations in remote areas, where heavy machinery and makeshift settlements have caused significant ecological damage.
Ghana’s response includes robust measures like Operation Vanguard, a military-police task force established in 2017 to combat illegal mining, as detailed in Wikipedia’s documentation on the subject.
The task force has arrested thousands of miners, destroyed illegal equipment, and aimed to restore polluted water bodies like the Birim and Ankobra rivers. These efforts, however, face criticism for their limited long-term impact, with some arguing that economic pressures and corruption continue to fuel galamsey, necessitating stronger policy enforcement and community engagement.
