Help get rid of Chinese illegal miners – Speaker tells Chinese Ambassador

Joe Osei-Owusu[/caption] The First Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Joseph Osei Owusu has called on the Chinese Ambassador to remove all illegal Chinese miners from their operational areas in Ghana. He made the call when the outgoing Chinese Ambassador to Ghana, Sun Baohong paid a courtesy call on the two Deputy Speakers of Parliament at the Job 600 in Accra. Commenting on what he termed ‘two dark spots’, the First Deputy Speaker told the Ambassador that the Chinese have taken advantage of their relationship with citizens to get involved in illegal mining. He said it has been a concern to Ghana because they have strayed to areas which are originally reserved for only Ghanaians. Joseph Osei Owusu said Chinese firms were warmly welcomed because they were selling just mining equipment to the local people, but unfortunately they have gone beyond selling and are now mining, which he said is worrisome. The First Deputy Speaker stated that Ghana will count on the Chinese Ambassador to advise her successor to assist in removing the Chinese from where they are not permitted to be mining in order to avert clashes with residents or government machinery. Joe Owusu lamented how the environment has been degraded by the activities of illegal miners. “It is embarrassing because all around us every waterbody appears to have been affected and the Chinese aationals are behind all these water pollution”, he reiterated. He urged the outgoing ambassador to impress upon her successor to help Ghana reclaim its water bodies. According to the Deputy Speaker, it is very sad that after one year of the ban on illegal mining, Ghana is still battling with the menace because people continue to pollute water bodies. However, Joseph Osei Owusu acknowledged the support China has given to Ghana and called on China to support Ghana’s government in the establishment of the One-District One-Factory policy. On her part, the outgoing ambassador expressed her delight to have been in Ghana, and indicated that bilateral trade between the two countries is increasing. By Owoahene Omari Acheampong| Onua fm| Ghana]]>