Plunder of Ghana’s Gold by Chinese Criminals Continues, Authorities Say

Africa’s top gold producer is frustrated by the ongoing presence of Chinese nationals mining illegally in West Africa, experts say.

Illegal gold panners from Niger work in Kibi area, southern Ghana, on April 10, 2017. Cristina Aldehuala/AFP via Getty Images

JOHANNESBURG—Thousands of Chinese citizens remain in Ghana to mine gold illegally, despite a crackdown by authorities in Africa’s largest producer of the precious metal, according to law enforcement agencies in the capital, Accra.

They say the illegal miners appear to be taking advantage of the record-high gold price, which hit $3,500 in April, with much of the illicit metal being smuggled back to China.