Ghana should not react to Chinese press conference - Vladimir Antwi-Danso

International relations expert, Dr. Vladimir Antwi-Danso, is counseling the government against reacting to a press conference called by Chinese diplomats on the controversial subject of illegal Chinese miners in the country.

Describing the press conference which was led by a deputy Chinese Foreign Minister as irregular, Dr. Antwi-Danso nonetheless said the government of Ghana must exercise restraint pending a formal statement from Beijing.

After months of backroom diplomatic maneuverings, the Chinese diplomat and the Ambassador to Ghana on Tuesday went public with their disapproval of the way Chinese nationals said to be engaged in illegal mining are being treated in the wake of a government clampdown.

The delegation told a news conference in Accra they had reports of targeted attacks on Chinese illegal miners.

They, therefore, appealed to the government to treat their compatriots humanely, protect their properties and guarantee their safety.

Speaking on the subject on Joy FM's Top Story, Dr. Antwi-Danso, who is a senior research fellow at the Legon Center for International Affairs and Diplomacy, said it was unusual for a state actor to use a non-state actor such as the media as a channel for addressing their concerns.

The usual mechanism for highlighting their concerns, he said, was to deal directly with the government and not to organize a press conference. This is why ambassadors are in the country, he explained.

According to Dr. Antwi-Danso, the action by China amounted to public diplomacy – using the media to do PR for China.

“[But] our government does not have to react to this at all. It would be bad,” he said.

He said ministries such as the ministry of information should refrain from commenting on the request by the Chinese.