The Ministry of the Interior has clarified the government’s decision to deport foreign nationals involved in illegal mining and other criminal activities, rather than prosecuting them in Ghana.
According to the Ministry, the approach is driven by judicial delays, national security considerations, and the need for more effective enforcement.
Since Muntaka Mohammed Mubarak took office as Minister for the Interior, over 100 foreign nationals, including Chinese citizens, have been deported for engaging in illegal mining (commonly known as galamsey) and related offences.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, a source at the Ministry emphasised that the deportation policy is not intended to favour foreigners or show leniency. Instead, it is designed to prevent further abuse of Ghana’s legal system and to safeguard national interests.
“Foreigners arrested for illegal mining often exploit loopholes in the judicial process,” the source explained. “They build connections within the security services and deliberately choose courts where they can secure favorable bail terms. Once granted bail, they relocate to other districts and resume their illegal activities, while court proceedings continue for years without resolution.”
To counter this tactic, the Ministry partners with the respective embassies of the offenders to facilitate deportation. The embassies typically fund the cost of the deportees’ flights, while the government covers travel expenses for the Ghana Immigration Service officers assigned to escort them. Upon arrival in their home countries, the deported individuals are handed over to their national law enforcement agencies for prosecution.
Ghana’s foreign missions, including the embassy in China, closely monitor these legal proceedings and provide regular updates to the Interior Ministry.
The Ministry also noted that Ghanaian accomplices who facilitate the illegal operations of foreign nationals are not spared from legal action and are prosecuted accordingly.
Recently, 30 passengers were duly handed over to the Chinese Immigration Officers at the Airport.
According to the source, the Chinese government has expressed its full support for Ghana’s actions, labeling the involvement of Chinese nationals in illegal mining as a disgrace and a threat to the strong diplomatic ties between the two nations.
The Interior Ministry insists that the strategy not only promotes timely justice and reduces security threats but also fosters stronger international cooperation in the fight against transnational crime.
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