The Probe has learnt that China’s President Xi Jinping has urged President Akufo Addo to sternly deal with Chinese nationals caught in the web of illegal mining known in local parlance as ‘galamsey.’
According to Information Minister designate, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, President Akufo-Addo on his state visit to China has informed Mr Xi of the involvement of some Chinese nationals in illegal mining in Ghana.
Mr Oppong Nkrumah said President Xi responded that Ghana could deal with such Chinese nationals according to the laws of Ghana.
President Xi, however, appealed to President Akufo-Addo not to tag all Chinese as galamsey operators as some are legitimately doing business here in Ghana, Oppong Nkrumah said on Peace FM’s morning show, Kokrokoo, on Monday, September 3.
Explaining the $50 billion Century Bond, Oppong Nkrumah said, it is money government wants to secure for long term infrastructural development for 100 years which President Akufo-Addo told President Xi that China could take part as its contribution to Ghana’s development.
Mr Oppong Nkrumah says the relationship between Ghana and China has existed since the first President, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah’s regime.
“Sometime ago when China wanted to join the United Nations Security Council, it was former President Kufuor who made it possible for China through the last voting he organised in that respect,” he said.
Mr Nkrumah was responding to questions on the motivation behind the eight co-operation agreements and Memoranda of Understandings [MoUs] signed between Ghana and China over the weekend.
He said, the signed agreements and the MoUs were in order to deepen the relationship between Ghana and China which has existed for so many years now.
President Akufo Addo and other African leaders will attend the Forum on China-Africa Cooporation (FOCAC) slated for today, September 3 and tomorrow, September 4, in Beijing-China.
