By Prince Ahenkorah
Ghana’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has declared a decisive new policy: group visa applications from Chinese nationals are officially a thing of the past.
The move is a direct assault on the nation’s persistent illegal mining crisis, known locally as galamsey.
Speaking at the Government Accountability Series, Ablakwa acknowledged the strong, long-standing relationship between Ghana and China, but he was unequivocal about the government’s stance.
“We have excellent relations with China and, to be fair, many Chinese nationals are conducting legitimate business and investing in transformative projects,” the Minister stated. He was quick to add, “There is no official Chinese government agenda to come and degrade our environment.”
Despite this, Ablakwa conceded that a “small but persistent group” of Chinese nationals continues to engage in illicit mining—a matter of grave national concern.
During a recent trip to China, Ablakwa went straight to the source, visiting a province notorious for sending its people to Ghana to participate in galamsey. In a high-stakes meeting in Nanning, Guangxi province, he delivered President Mahama’s message loud and clear. “I did not mince words,” he said. “I made it very clear that President Mahama’s position is that this cannot be allowed to continue.”
Now, the government is backing up those words with action. Ghana’s embassy in Beijing and its consulate in Guangzhou have been given strict new orders. “That is the new policy. Every applicant must appear in person for an interview,” Ablakwa announced. “Whether for a conference, excursion, or any other purpose, each individual must apply separately.”
“There is a strict order, no more group visa processing,” the Minister stressed, calling the policy a direct result of his meeting in Guangxi. This latest measure is part of a broader government strategy to combat illegal mining.
“I want to assure you that we are handling this issue fairly and in the interest of the nation,” Ablakwa said, underscoring that the galamsey scourge is a menace that everyone must confront head-on.