Ghana’s Gold Diggers: Chinese Miners Bring Conflict


Publisher: Science Development Net

Author(s): Jon Spaull

Date: 2016

Topics: Extractive Resources, Livelihoods

Countries: Ghana

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China has had a long history of investment in Ghana, whether it be building the country’s national theatre or constructing roads and dams. But the Chinese influence has not always been beneficial.

 

Now it is causing environmental devastation and social unrest.   An influx of illegal Chinese miners, attracted by the abundance of gold, has ignited bloody conflicts with the local — and also illegal — small-scale miners, the galamseys, over the mines’ control.