The Ghana Integrity Initiative (GII) has described as worrying the Attorney General’s office acceptance of donations from the Chinese Mission in Ghana in the midst of the prosecution of its nationals for illegally mining in the West African country.
Ms Baohong, the Chinese Ambassador to Ghana Tuesday June 6 donated items including desktop computers, printers, UPS and a cheque for GHS10,000 to Gloria Akuffo’s office. It comes at a time when China had been severely condemned over its nationals’ involvement in illegal mining popularly called galamsey.
There are several Chinese nationals being prosecuted for illegally mining in Ghana following a clampdown on the menace by government.
A similar donation was made to the Ghana Police Service and according to GII’s Executive Director Linda Ofori Kwafo the latest in the midst of the current trials is worrying.
“The point is that we are currently at the moment dealing with matters that concern Chinese engaging in illegal mining,” she said, adding “so if the very institution that are mandated under our laws to deal with such matters are accepting gifts at this time then it raises concern.”
Meanwhile, Ms Baohong said during the donation that it was to support the AG’s Office, towards organising a stakeholders’ consultative workshop, on the Office of the Special Prosecutor Bill, 2017.
But Mrs. Ofori warned “we should be careful in how we take gifts.”
