Ghana dispatch: Ghana tightens visa requirements for Chinese citizens to curb illegal mining

Ghana’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, announced on September 15 a new visa policy reforming requirements for Chinese nationals in the country. The policy aims to curb illegal mining in Ghana—commonly known as “galamsey.” Illegal mining continues to devastate water bodies, threaten public health, and contribute to rising electricity and water costs . One of its most severe impacts has been the shutdown of the Ghana Water Company’s operations in Swedru, a town in the Central Region, forcing residents to seek alternative sources of water. The reforms will eliminate the possibility for Chinese citizens to apply for group visa applications, regardless of their purpose for traveling, and will now require every Chinese citizen to interview individually—rather than