Prosecute, Jail And Deport All Foreigners Engaged In Illegal Gold Mining And Other Illegal Activities In Ghana

Ghana's relationship with China can never be ruined by the  illegal activities of Chinese citizens flouting laws in Ghana. Ever.

The relationship between the two nations began soon after Ghana gained its independence in 1957 when Ghana's President Nkrumah and China's Chairman Mao Zedong ruled their respective nations.

The friendship between the two countries was anchored in the Non-Aligned Movement - which sought to provide a middle path to development that insulated developing member-nations from being under the spheres of influence  of the two superpowers at the time: the United States of America (USA) and the Union of Socialist Soviet Republics (USSR).

Today, China, a great nation with an ancient civilisation and a proud history, is a great global  power both politically and economically.

Indeed, China has become a major source of investment funds for many emerging nations, such as Ghana. That has further strengthened the bilateral  relationship existing between the two nations.

As it happens, the Chinese people have paid a high price for the economic boom that has made  their country the workshop of the world - in terms of the health-damaging effect on millions of that nation's citizens caused by egregious pollution and apocalyptic environmental degradation.

To ameliorate their plight, the Chinese government is now responding aggressively to address those growing concerns of its people by taking active steps to improve air quality in towns and cities across China - by closing old coal-fired power plants and ramping up  investment in its renewable energy sector.

China is also restoring vast swathes of land in its countryside degraded by the relentless push for industrial growth over the decades.

Its leaders therefore cannot and will not support environmental degradation in Ghana  caused by greedy, selfish and irresponsible Chinese citizens pleading ignorance of our nation's laws on mining.

That is why the relationship between China and Ghana will not be ruined by the illegal activities of a few thousand recalcitrant Chinese citizens who would be executed for the same crimes they are committing here if they were committed in China.

Furtheremore, in an age of global terrorism, the government of Ghana must take an uncompromising stand against all foreigners engaged in illegal activities in our country - including Chinese citizens - without exception. It has no choice in the matter, alas.

Safeguarding the remainder of our country's natural heritage is a national security issue, no less - for there is now a real possibility that Ghana will become a water-distressed country within a decade if the natural environment is not protected now.

Foreigners engaged in illegal activities such as illegal gold mining and the felling of rosewood trees in the north to smuggle overseas in 40ft shipping containers are abusing our welcoming nature - and that is intolerable in this day and age.

Those of them engaged in illegal gold mining are actually compromising  our nation's long-term  future. Literally. The question is: Why should we continue to tolerate that when we are not a nation of ignorant fools?

Foreign nationals breaking our laws - including Chinese nationals engaged in illegal gold mining - must all be arrested, prosecuted, jailed and then deported back to their home countries immediately  after serving their prison sentences. Enough is enough. Full stop. Haaba.