1,614 Chinese illegal miners repatriated in 14 years – GIS
Data compiled by the Ghana Immigration Service(GIS) has revealed that between the years under review thus 2009 to 2022, it was only in 2011 that no such repatriation took place.
A total of 1,614 Chinese nationals have been repatriated from Ghana in the last 14 years for their engagements in illegal mining in various areas in the country.
Data compiled by the Ghana Immigration Service(GIS) has revealed that between the years under review thus 2009 to 2022, it was only in 2011 that no such repatriation took place.
Illegal mining refers to mining operations whereby miners without a licence and having no concessions operate in prohibited areas or concessions of existing large-scale mining companies.
Several foreign nationals, especially Chinese have in recent years been arrested for engaging in small-scale illegal mining popularly called ‘galamsey’ in various parts of the country.
Even though Ghanaians mostly associate scale mining with galamsey, it is worth noting that the two have some differences dictated by the legality otherwise.
Small-scale mining per the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006(Act 703), is a mining operation over an area of land per the number of blocks prescribed”
Section 83 of Act 703 stipulates that an applicant for small-scale mining must be a Ghanaian, 18 years of age and must be registered by a District Office of the Minerals Commission in the area designated for mining operations.
Despite the above, it is said that there still exist a lot of small-scale miners actively engaging in mining without the relevant regulatory regime coupled with foreigners who go behind local persons to gain licences for the same.
Some persons have thus blamed the cumbersome legal regime relative to the licences for the existence of numerous unregistered small-scale mining companies.
Regarding the repatriation specifics, the Ghana Immigration Service data shows that 9 persons were repatriated in 2009, 43 in 2010 and 130 in 2012.
Additionally, 2013 saw the highest number of repatriations thus 713, 2014 had 74 while 21 persons were repatriated in 2015.
Furthermore, 2016 had 28, 2017; 36, 2018; 160, 2019; 376, 2020; 28 persons, 2021; 11 and 2022 has so far seen 12 Chinese nationals who have been repatriated.
