Some members of the public are reacting differently to the government’s plan to deport Chinese implicated in illegal mining and other crimes instead of prosecuting them locally.
Some Ghanaians have questioned why foreign offenders are returned, but Ghanaian residents who commit identical crimes face prosecution.
After being deported, foreign nationals are turned over to their home nations’ law enforcement for prosecution, according to Citi News checks.
Ghana’s foreign embassies, particularly the Embassy in China, keep a close eye on the court cases and give the Ministry of the Interior regular updates, according to sources at the Ministry.
During a recent operation at Kotoka International Airport, 30 Chinese nationals who had been detained for illegal mining, or galamsey, were repatriated and turned over to Chinese immigration officers.
According to sources, the handover was carried out in a “polite and professional manner,” under the direction of Superintendent Li Ran, Head of Airport Operations.
The source claims that the Chinese government has backed Ghana’s efforts, calling its citizens’ participation in illicit mining “disgraceful” and detrimental to the two nations’ close diplomatic ties.
According to the source, “foreigners arrested for illegal mining often exploit loopholes in the judicial process.” “They intentionally select courts that offer favourable bail terms and build relationships within security agencies.”
After being given bail, they move to other districts and carry on with their illicit activities, while court proceedings continue for years without being resolved.
More than 100 foreigners, including Chinese nationals, have been deported for crimes involving illegal mining and other offences since Muntaka Mohammed Mubarak became Interior Minister.
Interior Ministry officials emphasised that the goal of the deportation policy is to protect Ghana’s interests and stop exploitation of the country’s legal system, not to give preference to foreigners.
One official stated, “The goal is to guarantee prompt justice and lower the risk of recidivism among offenders who take advantage of court delays and loose bail requirements.”
According to the Ministry, there are no exceptions to the local prosecution of Ghanaians who were discovered to have conspired with foreign illicit miners.
Speaking to police officers in the Ashanti Region, the interior minister warned prosecutors and law enforcement officials to be careful.
He emphasised that those found guilty will be disciplined and warned against the practice of changing the identity of foreign suspects to prevent their deportation.
To expedite repatriation procedures, the Ministry is also collaborating closely with the deportees’ embassies.
The Government of Ghana pays for the travel expenses of the Immigration Service personnel who accompany the nationals, while the embassies pay for the flights of their citizens.
The Ministry claims that this strategy improves national security and the effectiveness of the administration of justice in addition to fortifying international collaboration in the fight against transnational crime.
Chinese nationals are escorted and welcomed by Chinese officials upon their return for trial on allegations of fraud and unlawful mining, according to photos released by immigration authorities.
