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Ghanaian businessmen reportedly being harassed in China

This appears to be a form of retaliation to Ghana's clamp down on illegal mining activities in the country.

Some Ghanaian businessmen in China have begun complaining about what they describe as harassment from Chinese officials in the course of their work.

Chinese nationals are heavily involved in illegal mining activities in Ghana. The Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources Ministry subsequently gave a three-week ultimatum to all illegal miners to stop their activities or be prepared to face the full rigours of the law.

The ultimatum expires today (April 19, 2017). But some Ghanaian businessmen say they are being harassed by Chinese customs officials at the airports, with several of their goods being confiscated without any reason.

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A Ghanaian businessman who has fallen victim to such a situation told Accra-based Joy FM that: "I thought it was a generalized tightening of all their grips till an incident we had just about three weeks ago. At the last minute Chinese government comes, uses their China customs and just confiscates goods bound for Accra alone. I have had to follow them myself, every other day, and it is the same story."

Meanwhile, Ghana’s President Nana Akufo-Addo has said Ghana has no problem with Beijing but said his administration will not renege on enforcing the mining laws to clamp down on illegal Chinese miners.

The president’s comments follow a strongly worded letter by the Chinese government to the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources warning of a diplomatic row if Ghana continues with the clamp down on Chinese miners.

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