China cautions Ghana over detained nationals

The Republic of China has expressed its displeasure at the treatment meted out to its nationals in Ghana.

The economic powerhouse says Ghana has detained more than 90 Chinese citizens on suspicion of illegal gold mining and that one has died. Its Foreign Ministry has expressed serious concerns over the death and detentions.

China has over the last decade become a major partner to Ghana in terms of development projects and bilateral relations.

In an online statement China said it expects Ghana to deal with the matter in accordance with the law to protect the safety and rights of Chinese citizens.

Last month, the Chinese Embassy in Ghana announced that 40 Chinese had been detained on suspicion of illegal gold mining. Thirty-eight were deported.

Ghana’s mining towns have recently been inundated with Chinese illegal miners who are said to be attacking indigenes around such towns.

It would be recalled that in July this year, some residents of Amansie West in the Ashanti Region clashed with some Chinese illegal miners who were said to be terrorizing the residents with heavy ammunitions.

Some of the Chinese miners were subsequently arrested and charged with causing harm. Even though there were reports that some of them had been deported, there is no evidence to that effect.