The data compiled by the Immigration Service comes following the controversies surrounding the return of Chinese galamsey queen, Aisha Huang and whether she was deported or not.
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1,641 Chinese 'galamseyers' repatriated between 2009 and 2022 — Immigration
Data compiled by the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) has shown that 1,641 Chinese nationals involved in illegal mining popularly known as galamsey were arrested and repatriated between 2009 and August 2022.
Chinese galamseyers
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According to the data, 1,018 were repatriated between 2009 and 2016.
It showed that nine Chinese nationals were repatriated in 2009, 43 in 2010, none in 2011, 130 in 2012, 713 in 2013, and 74 in 2014.
In 2015, 21 were repatriated and 28 were repatriated in 2016 bringing the total number to 1018.
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In 2017, 36 were repatriated followed by 160 in 2018, 376 in 2019, 28 in 2020, 11 in 2021, and 22 by August 2022 to bring the total in this period to 623.
In all, a total of 3,800 are said to be voluntary repatriations in the period between 2009 and 2013.; 2017-36; 2018-160; 2019-376; 2020-28; 2021-11 and 2022-12.
Earlier, former President John Mahama questioned President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo's inability to show leadership in the fight against galamsey particularly the Chinese.
Despite the good bilateral relations between Ghana and China, the government must ensure that illegalities committed by Chinese nationals engaging in galamsey must not go unpunished.
Immigration service data on Chinese galamseyers
Pulse Ghana
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"When I was President, we valued the relations with China. But if you are Ghanaian and you go to China and engaged in any illegality, they do not say because of the good relations they will let you go scot-free. You will face the full rigours of the law in China," Mahama said on TV3.
Chinese 'galamsey queen' Aisha Huang
Pulse Ghana
He disclosed that during his tenure, he deported about 5,000 Chinese nationals engaged in galamsey.
"When I was in office, I faced this same illegal gold mining [issue]. I deported almost 5,000 illegal Chinese miners. I didn't say because of the good relations we have with Ghana, we should allow them to engage in this illicit activity. We collaborated with the Chinese embassy, and it didn't destroy our relationship," he stressed.
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