Ghana cracks down on Chinese miners

A small-scale mining site once mined by Chinese miners in Dunkwa-on-Offin in the center of Ghana. Photo: AFP

By He Huifeng
South China Morning Post 

When Su Zhenyu arrived in Ghana in 1995 to live his African dream, there were barely 100 Chinese people in the small, resource-rich country.

In the 18 years since, the 42-year-old Guangxi native has made a living in many different ways, including translator, casino manager, salesman and even as powerbroker between Beijing and Ghana’s gold miners.

Su has witnessed the growth of Ghana’s Chinese population from less than 100 to tens of thousands in recent years as immigrants poured into the country in search of gold.

And now he is witnessing the explosion of tension and violence between the Chinese immigrants —  most of whom are involved in illegal gold mining — and the locals.

The Ghanaian government launched a campaign last year to fight illegal mining.

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