On Thursday, October 23, Ghana’s High Court in Accra will rule on an application seeking to stop the government from deporting foreign nationals involved in illegal mining in the country.
The application by civic group, Democracy Hub, seeks to restrain the country from deporting Chinese and other foreign nationals for engaging in illegal mining and related environmental offenses.
Between 2021 and 2025, reports indicate that 107 foreign nationals involved in the act have been deported without trial.
Instead of their deportation, the group wants their prosecution within the laws of the country.
While Ghana has the legal right to prosecute, it has recently focused on deporting foreigners involved in specific crimes including illegal mining, also known as galamsey.
In a statement, Democracy hub, says the practice not only undermine the rule of law but also creates a discriminatory approach to the fight against galamsey.
“Democracy Hub contends that this policy undermines the rule of law and Ghana’s soverign duty to apply its criminal laws equally to all persons within its territory, defeats environmental justice, as offenders evade punishment and rehabilitation obligations critical to restoring Ghana’s devastated river systems and forests,” the group said in a statement.
