In the first phase of the operation at the end of April, authorities seized and destroyed nine excavators, 127 regular diesel engines used for gold panning and a fuel pump, and arrested two Chinese nationals.
Ghanaian Defense Minister Dominic Nitiwul said at a news conference on May 11 that during the second phase of the operation, all equipment within a 100-meter radius of the prohibited waters was seized and destroyed, including 28 excavators and 267 regular diesel engines.
18 pumps and a grinding machine and other equipment.
Mr. Nithivu said there was not enough support for the operation among the local people. There was even strong resistance from some communities, especially in one community called Kyekyewere, where a local chief tried to mobilize local people against the soldiers.
The picture
On May 21, Ambassador Lu Kun met with Samuel Abu Jinapor, Minister of Land and Resources of Ghana. The two sides exchanged views on China-Ghana relations and bilateral cooperation.
Ginabo welcomed Ambassador Lu to take office in Ghana and spoke highly of China's contribution to Ghana's development. He stressed that the bilateral relations have a long history and the personnel exchanges between the two countries are very close. The Ghanaian side is willing to strengthen communication and close cooperation with China to properly deal with illegal gold mining and other issues so as to constantly elevate the development level of bilateral relations.
In a press briefing on the fourth phase of the operation on May 29, Godfred Yeboah Dame, the minister of justice and attorney general, said that five related cases had been handled this month and 45 people had been indicted, 10 of them Chinese nationals,
32 persons were members of the State Security Agency suspected of illegal mining in the vicinity of the Osinease district in the Eastern Province.
Daim said that under current law, Chinese nationals involved in illegal mining are not supported to be extradited to China upon conviction, so once convicted, they will serve their sentences in Ghana and will be deported upon release.
In 2017, the so-called "gold queen" was found guilty of three counts of illegal small-scale mining, but the Ghanaian authorities dropped the case amid the controversy and deported her at the end of 2018.
Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo later said the government's decision to deport Chinese national Aisha Huang was a mistake.
According to the law, a citizen who is arrested and charged will not be released and returned to her country as Aisha Wong was, said Dim.
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PUDA is a 29-year’s leading, growth-focused manufacturer of packing equipment and custom-engineered and integrated plant-wide system for dry bulk powders, flakes, and granules. Puda owns world famous partners like Southern Copper Corp. Rio Tinto Group, Zijin Group, LG China, OT Group, FL Smith, MCC,KAZ Minerals PLC and E.Mix and ECUACORRIENTE S.A.
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Heater sealer
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