Follow CGSP on Social Media

Listen to the CGSP Podcast

Ghanaian Government Steps Up Illegal Mining Crackdown in the Wake of Aisha Huang Arrest

Suspected illegal miners Ghana arrested in a recent military crackdown. Image via the Ghanaian military.

Ghanaian security forces arrested 164 people last week in a new crackdown on the illegal small-scale gold mining known as “galamsey.” Many of those detained are foreigners, mostly from West African countries but none from China.

The government’s renewed efforts to curtail rampant illegal mining come in response to the recent re-arrest of Chinese national Aisha Huang, aka “the Galamsey Queen.” Huang’s connections within the government and business community apparently allowed her to re-enter the country and continue mining illegally even after she was deported in 2018. This revelation has been a huge embarrassment for the government.

  • Get a daily email packed with the latest China-Africa news and analysis.
  • Read exclusive insights on the key trends shaping China-Africa relations.
  • Full access to the News Feed that provides daily updates on Chinese engagement in Africa and throughout the Global South.

China, Africa and the Global South... find out what’s happening.

Subscribe today for unlimited access.

What is The China-Global South Project?

Independent

The China-Global South Project is passionately independent, non-partisan and does not advocate for any country, company or culture.

News

A carefully curated selection of the day’s most important China-Global South stories. Updated 24 hours a day by human editors. No bots, no algorithms.

Analysis

Diverse, often unconventional insights from scholars, analysts, journalists and a variety of stakeholders in the China-Global South discourse.

Networking

A unique professional network of China-Africa scholars, analysts, journalists and other practioners from around the world.