The Government of Ghana has rolled out stricter visa regulations for Chinese nationals as part of a renewed effort to combat illegal small-scale gold mining, widely known as galamsey.
Under the new policy, all Chinese applicants seeking entry into Ghana must now undergo individual interviews, with group visa applications no longer permitted.
Authorities say the move is aimed at screening out prospective illegal miners while continuing to welcome legitimate investors and business operators.
The decision follows growing concern over the environmental and social toll of galamsey, which has contributed to large-scale deforestation, river pollution, and the destruction of arable land.
Ghana, Africa’s leading gold producer, has been under pressure to enforce tighter controls on the sector, which is dominated by thousands of unlicensed operations.
China’s ambassador to Ghana recently remarked that the problem of galamsey is not merely a foreign issue but a consequence of weak enforcement and regulatory lapses within Ghana itself.
However, the Ghanaian government insists that foreign nationals involved in illegal mining must be curtailed to protect the country’s natural resources and restore order to the industry.
Officials say the visa restrictions are just one component of a wider crackdown that includes deploying security forces to mining hotspots and revoking licenses of non-compliant operators.
Environmental activists have welcomed the move, describing it as a necessary step toward sustainable mining practices.
They urge the government to complement the new visa rules with tougher penalties for local collaborators who enable illegal mining activities.
Ghana’s Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources has reaffirmed its commitment to balancing economic growth with environmental preservation, saying the new measures are intended to safeguard the country’s future and its communities impacted by illegal mining.
