Great mini-doc. Well shot and very timely with China's rampant illegal mining practices. It's so sad how easily money and influence can bend governments backwards and cause such injustice to a country. Now more than ever is the time to protest against these types of illegal practices and enforce new regulations.

The Chinese translation at 3:43 is incorrect. Yes, he's doing it for money, but his reasoning behind this dirty work is for "his livelihood and to support his family." Everyone is just trying to survive.

Leo

10y↑28

There's no excuse for this kind of exploitative behavior. It's just pure greed. The Chinese for obvious reasons, but also the Ghanians, whose corrupt agencies allows this kind of thing to happen. I just hope people realize that not all, and not even the majority of us Chinese think this kind of behavior is acceptable. Out of 1.3 billion people, we get quite a few bad apples.

Irene Davo

Please watch Afrimax English

Eran Fontellio

5y↑30

That's painful to see the mother land and the people still going through this

Ben Pang

10y↑5

I think it's up to the Ghanian government to apply more stringent control over foreign mining. In addition, the Chinese government should investigate into profits made by these small-scale private companies. This will probably be difficult since these companies will likely be unregistered, or perhaps headed by the mafia. Ultimately, it comes down to strict enforcement with the collaboration of both governements.

Abdifatah Elmi

4y↑240

Oh my African brothers, why you let foreigners took your natural resources while your people are still suffering. Stand up, stand up, stand up for your country.

basanti home

4y↑8

👌👌

fanie aaron

4y↑26

I think the government is corrupt like here in South Africa.

Randy Bridges

4y↑3

Freemasons run everything learn Gematria

Glenn touch13

3y↑4

@K D we are all humans

8 More Replies...

James Thomas

6y↑27

Those poor brothers! God bless them. 🙏🏻

D. Town

4y↑1

Amen

Mickey Ibra

7y↑2

It is not about people from overseas coming to influence local people to join this dangerous trade. It is about strengthening policies to stop them getting involve in this deadly activities. Governments are responsible to protect their citizens. This is a brutal activity which African youth may willingly get involve but it is unsafe. My heart goes to the families and friends who lost their love once.

Profit With Gold

10y↑3

This is an interesting video to watch. I can't believe China is using Ghana to produce more gold for their country.. China is starting to expand and they even want more gold to be added to their gold reserve. Worth watching the documentary.

John Baptist

3y↑7

Eye opening....n thanks for this documentary....even in my own land n area, we are somehow exploited....so it's a great lesson for us....how to be wise n take action before outsiders exploit us completely

Irene Davo

Do you watch Afrimax English

yong liang

5y↑7

I am Chinese and I can recognise that the translation intensionally has serious problems and is misleading people, for example, "we are doing this for money" but the Chinese man expressed that " we come here in order to make a living and support my family."

PerfectNeglect

Omg!! I know this is 2 years late but I am Chinese and I picked up on this as well. Thank you so much for pointing this out. I'm definitely not voicing support for these mining activities that have evidently caused so much harm for Ghana, but the Guardian should really do better at at least giving both sides an equal representation and voice

Hansen Glover

4y↑3

How and why has it come to this!!! The idea that the Ghana government and security agencies will sit there and allow any foreign person to do illegal mining in our country, decimating our forests and destroying the river systems of the nation is deplorable and totally unacceptable. Why????

Lukas Ochola

5y↑7

I am from Kenya,from stories i have heard about Ghana thought Ghana was a very organized country until i watched this documentary

Comfort Edu

4y↑1

Which Ghana organize? They are just trying to come up but the spirit of corruption is still there

Nathaneal Smith

3y↑1

That isn't true,Ghana has a lot of potential but corruption is o meur main problem.We are the second producers of cocoa in the world, number one producers of gold in Africa so with such an abundance we should be a prosperous nation but get rich quickly among politicians is killing us trust

Ye Bo Game Entertainment

11y↑1

We as western africans have to put our minds together and stop thinking about how we can benefit ourselves but instead how we can help our country develop and grow. If we do not unite and put effort into changing our nation, others will put effort into capitalizing and destroying our country Ghana."Chase your dreams or die" quote by Wonderkid bounce

Peter Mclean

11y↑5

the sediment issue with alluvial gold can be alleviated somewhat by sensible bundwall and dredging construction

freddy freddy

5y↑12

I m a Hongkonger. I understand very well how the Chinese would loot an economy by signing a treaty with a government from a less developed nation. The Chinese would loan u a dollar but u have to repay 1000 times in return. When ur resources r used up, they will leave, and u r left alone in ur own country.

Tommy Flowers

2y↑3

This is the same thing that the US, UK and France do, not to mention many other countries.

NINYAEKYI GABRIMELK

9y↑3

This is unbelievable :an unbridled destruction of our very existence ! If our elders are not rising to stop this evil,we the youth will rise !

Eleanor Whalley

11y↑6

Very interesting documentary - well worth watching

Joseph Paniello

11y

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Charles King

4y↑1

Corruption is the biggest problem in these countries

Mixey

9y↑22

Same thing occurring here in Suriname
It's like a Global Gold Rush

Emmanuel Kesben

Stories By Aeraye Vlogs

11y↑1

I am very saddened by what is going on in Ghana. For a country that has so much potential it has an inferiority complex and has allowed Chinese people to come and take over their own resources and gaining from the resources rather than the Ghanaians. I am saddened.

Steve Ballmer

11y↑1

She actually came from Zimbabwe and has been round most of Africa, I find it so hard for people to understand that people are actually different and have different personality's/morals based on where they come from

quest 77051

4y↑55

those that don't learn from history WILL REPEAT IT.

PandaLivesMatter

11y↑2

Believe or not, there are several mistranslations in this documentary. It translates "we are doing this for money", but the original words are "we are here doing this to feed our families, to make money" And it shouldn't be translated as "to stop the local people stealing from us", it's "prevent them from robbing us" The Guardian definitely needs a better Chinese translator.

emeraldoe

My heart is aching and bleeding. It's our leaders who have put our country into this, but hey whether leaders or not we have to organized and get rid of this and prove to our leaders that enough is enough we can't look on unconcerned. Listen to all these, how could go to someone's country with guns and killed the natives because of their on properties?

SAMZIRRA

5y↑3

Honestly, who else thinks it would be scary to work and live there?

Nana Muigai

8y↑2

This is very heartbreaking. We have mortgaged the continent to the Chinese, as we lavish in armaments all over. Is it that we suffer from Schizophrenia or some kind of a chronic mental malady? What exactly is the problem with fellow Africans?

AFinteresting88

Its obviously not right for the Chinese to be setting up shop illegally, however the biggest shame is that the corruption of the Ghana government is allowing this to happen in their own country.

Chucky Bonty

Educated Ghanaians should get to this mining themselves there is great money to be made 👍

Netflex Movie Reviews

11y↑1

I just returned from Ghana a year ago, the people there are very upset about the Chinese being there. But the problem is not necessary the Chinese, the problem is Ghana's government; there is no solid structure for workers' rights. They could easily incorporate a union workers' rights structure, because Ghana is not just a labor rich country, it is rich in natural resources; so the mining companies can't just go some where else to find gold, they would have to play by their rules.

Doxa B-Obbin

5y↑49

Ghana has the potential of being one of the countries with the best economy due to its resources but yet they still remain amongst the poorest.
Africa will forever be Africa because of its corrupt and vision less leaders till they have a Change of mind .

TripleQ

4y↑2

Ghana’s got one of the fastest growing economies tho

Isaac Boateng

@TripleQ I chose to observe

Kwaku Adjei

Africa needs change of consciousness

Sam Sung

5y↑2

I noticed she said "3 billion dollar loan". That's strange. Everywhere else in the world, you usually pay someone to occupy or strip their land of resources. Like you "rent" a home, or "lease" the land... How is this "loan" to be repaid?

Eben

3y↑1

Update: up until this day the situation is the same and in some places its worse.

IAMAFRIEND JUNJUN

10y

I FEEL SO SO SORRY FOR THIS CHILDRENS.

Karimi Miriti

4y↑85

He’s even not ashamed of him self saying we buy guns to shot local people who steal from us,who is a thief the owner of the land or the foreigner????

Mighty B

4y↑14

Who is to blame ? If we don't wake up, China will soon dominate and take over the entire African continent!

Be Best

4y↑4

Like they are doing every where else

💙Ladoe 🌞•• ̄ ̄ωΦ

4y↑1

The original words, Gun "prevent local people come to ROB", not "stealing".
Chinese people told by chinese media, that some Africa countries were still in war, and sometime the relative "rice Chinese" were the target for local people to rob.

Kej Akintola

4y↑7

Killing Africans in their own country. Unacceptable,Africa wake up from your sleep...

💙Ladoe 🌞•• ̄ ̄ωΦ

4y↑2

@Kej Akintola Partially correct. Killing is unacceptable. Regardless foreigner or African: if Government were unable to protect the people(foreigners) who abide the law, wouldn't people have the right to protect themselves? If not, the government should shut down the border.

4 More Replies...

Gamma Del Ray

9y↑3

The Chinese are seeking to mine in northern Minnesota too. They think we have gold in our land, and would destroy everything on it. The only thing we have up there is iron, but we stopped mining it because it was destroying forest, and was not economically worth extracting. There are many people who feel the same as I do, and would rather die before seeing their home destroyed. It makes me absolutely sick. We don't own this world, we simply live in it. If we can't learn to coexist with nature, it will destroy us. Most people forget that we still completely live by the consent of nature, it doesn't matter how much paper you have. I fear that it will take the destruction of every last tree and crop for people to realize that you cant eat or breath money...

Francis Vilas Mensah

Politicians have greatly disappointed our nation.
There are instances where the military who are entrusted with the safety of our country are rather protecting these miners.

Mr Pepperoni Pizza

4y↑2

I feel so bad for the cocoa farmer

AngieP P.

4y↑8

This is heartbreaking devastating news.

Yilmaz Guney

It just shows that the Ghanaian Government has more interests in Gold and Chinese money than in the well being of its people....

Ujjwal Kumar Ujala

4y↑1

Actually Chinese are stealing the Ghana' resources, its totally unfair. Ghana govt need to ask international organisation to intervene into the matter. Ghana people need revolution under local leadership, and govt should hire the technology from other nation to mine and make the locals lifestyle better by providing employment and nation econmy would grow with the sustainable development. Love from india

lugoloobi ishaq

5y↑22

AFRICAN LEADERS FIGHT FOR THE CONTINENT INSTEAD OF SELLING IT CHEAPLY LIKE THAT!!!
AFRICAN GOVERNMENTS CARE FOR THE CITIZENS-HEALTH CAUSE THAT'S THEIR SOURCE OF SURVIVAL.

Fatima Siad

11y

Peace to you. hopefully you guys can find a solution to all of your problems, but maybe this video would make you a little more happier. "Ghana arrests Chinese suspects in illegal mining crackdown ".

Not Sure

You can't just deny those kids a way to survive. It's sad to see a child working in dangerous conditions like that but if they couldnt work to feed their family what does the west think will happen?

Ejebu David

4y↑1

Thank you very much for shooing this nice photos to the world to known, what the Chinese are doing was total illegal, which is very bad. l believe the Ghanaian people knowns exactly what they should do to avoid this. Thank you very much for shooing this nice photos to the world.

Chris Johnstone

The Guardian on purposely did not fully translate the Chinese mine worker's answer of why he came to Gana. He said that "he came here for making a living, for raising up his family" whereas the Guardian translate it became "We are doing this for money". Difficult to say, the Guardian's perspectives is not western bias.

MarvNoGood

4y↑22

A 3 billion dollar loan they know damn well they won’t be able to pay back, so they’re digging for gold and Ghana is in debt smh

3000darcy

10y↑52

I am British. I agree that Britain and other Western governments are no better, or likely worse than Chinese. I also agree that this documentary is completely biased. However, regardless of nationality, the value of land to produce food, clean water to support human population, and productive forests which provide raw materials will always be worth more than gold. Only after the soil has been destroyed. Only after the last river has been poisoned. Only after the last fish has been caught. Only then will you find that gold cannot be eaten. So stop arguing about who is to blame for what. We are all citizens of planet earth. And we all depend on each other to help one another and do what is right. Forget the gold. The real gold is right before your eyes.

Mysty Jakanyango

6y↑2

3000darcy, at last, the only sane and truthful opinion in this trail. Kudos, 3000darcy, you nailed it..

David Motlaloe

3000darcy you are 110% correct. Those chinese will care less about environment because when gold is no more, they will leave the country behind.

40 & a mule

You I agree with!

YNWA AIY

You are not British.

1 More Replies...

Na Na

11y

I think it’s rather sad that foreigners have to come and do that work to feed their families back home. As if Ghanaians couldn’t do or learn that job. The problems is that Ghanaians are not busy to fight upwards, but rather busy with keeping those who are below them down. Think about it.

ozwasp

11y

Gold has gone up because money has been devalued (through printing), not directly because of the global downturn

VTREX2010

11y↑4

I love how the Chinese guy in the beginning said "they bought guns to prevent the locals from stealing them". What a joke.

AMH Current Events

When businesses are brought to a country, it should mainly provide jobs for local people.

Cutis Benford

5y↑289

The most wealthiest continent on the face of this planet but yet the most brokest people

Anastacious X

4y↑10

Ed Judd corruption

Danny Savage

4y↑4

Exactly

jogga singh teidy

4y↑15

the afrian govenments need to stop licencing to mine esp former colonisers

S D

Ed Judd enlighten us

Brenton Thomas

4y↑2

I have been saying that for the last 40 years

5 More Replies...

Lincoln Fong

6y↑15

would be good to see an update since this 2013 report ~

Geli James

I visited these sites, nothing can be done as government is deeply involved, i wish i could engage in the legal ways of extraction

Jæ Owusu

Is even worse now

charles king

It will be better for the indigenes and local Ghanaians to dig this Gold than foreigners. Any foreigner who wanted to invest on gold mining should do so under agreement with the villagers or land owners while the federal government of Ghana will take their own tax and share. You will never left the villagers aside unless God will continue punishing the Ghana government officials with their families with untimely death every year.

premiercconstruction

5y↑2

China makes promises to governments in exchange for these contracts. China in exchange builds much needed infrastructures.... roads, bridges, water lines, airports, hospitals, schools......

But let’s see if China keeps its end of the deal. Or simply makes a mess..

iayyam

10y

well done Ghana

Victoria Roberts

6y↑92

The people from Ghana are fools to let this happen......😤

YNWA AIY

5y↑11

Specifically the Ghana government

Baby face

5y↑6

Victoria Roberts. I disagree with your statement how can the poor fight the government? You can't say people from Ghana are fool's politicians run the world until the lord is ready to take over believe it or not.

j

Who make up the government of Ghana? Martians?

Maria Aya Boussahel

Majority of these people think about themselves

winnifred brown

4y↑2

is not the people that let it happen is the government that let it happen

Vspeed1000

7y↑1

It´s already 2017 and it´s gotten probably worst and worst, The problem is that it´s for the chinese far easier to make illegal mining projects in foreign countries than in their own. Further more can be said that corrupted and weak goverments do not harm those illegal miners, due the fact that they receive developement help, and goverment building projects with the help of the P:R.C. This is the true form of Neo colonialism.

sajid chishty

5y↑3

I don't think so that is a big deal. The government should take some certain steps against illegal workers. As one part that brings money in the economy.

Jake Branthe

4y↑49

"We bought guns to stop the local people stealing from us."
How ironic

robert gonzales

9y↑1

We know africa is rich on resources but its greatest valuable asset is the people themselves especially the youth that is why we need more people like dr.ben carson,rand paul and former president jimmy carter. Yes the world is full of poor people especially in undeveloped third world countries. Unless we work together as a global community caring for the least and the poorest because they have great importance dignity and they are sons and daughters of the most high god .

Musa Bakiti

5y↑45

But the question remains when will be African leaders learn to lead and control their resource.

Bee Shaa

4y↑3

When it's finished 😁

Afrika Queen

in stead of being control by "Money!! 😞 🤔

Liberal Freedom

When their're satisfied with their bank accounts

Kevin

5y↑6

“We bought in weapons to stop the locals from stealing from us?” He had the audacity to say this with his chest when he’s mining ILLEGALLY in the country?

order9066

11y

Imagine how much more progress Ghana would have made if Britain had never made it a colony.

சுரேஸ் தமிழன்

5y↑1

When the government of the country allows it, you will say how illegal it is

575spyro

8y↑3

I feel terrible laughing at this, but:
"Coco, it's a future, its a life"?
"they have destroyed the coco, the coco farm"
😂😂😂😂😂

Jevhone Thompson

Am in love with d coco

Goognam Gowi

8y↑1

there is nothing funny about it. Cocoa is a prized commodity, sold world wide and a profitable farming if you are in the right latitudes. And Ghana is a good place for it.

michael clayton

The large Chocolate Companies around the world make more , much more from chocolate than gold . The Coca Plantations are truly world wealth .

Amy Kendall

Obviously something wrong with your eyes you cant see properly.

1 More Replies...

Bongo Bongo

5y↑51

Ghana government built their own company and mining by ghana people . Say no for other.

Alan Blanes

Canadian mining companies have had a history of destroying the protections of labour and communities in regions where this kind of predatory destruction occurs. Fair Trade Mining and Council of Canadians have documented practices that have undermined the traditions that the International Labour Organization was established to advance.

FARMING in AFRICA

How are you?

Alvin Flynn

5y↑2

Government in Africa is like drug dealers just getting easy money for their families & pocket

Kosmo Aduodonkor

5y↑4

I'm not sure how a robber can be robbed

Nakols Sonza

4y↑1

Most of us only care about money making. When they cannot bring those wealth anywhere when they die.

Itsan Oriot

5y↑5

3:05 "As far as the eye can see the trees have been cut down!" Yeah right! I see like 20 trees just from that bad angle and then 5 seconds later I see a forest with hundreds of trees!

Titoscudd

11y

Yes. I do recognize that the current arrangement with the Chinese govts is probably not "ideal" but, it is 100% better than anything that the Western world ever offered Africa. China is building roads, bridges, infrastructure, non-exploitative loans, offers acceptance and friendship as equals without imposing its religious, political, social, cultural, economic, etc preferences on Africans whether or not it is in their interests to adopt them.

nakedhands

10y

Responsble mining by everyone everywhere would be nice

Biniam Asmara

4y↑2

I don’t blame China I blame African leaders

VISHWANATH LOHAR

Government should take care of its own people, government is fully responsible for its citizen.

R KOTS

Nice documentary

Loyaldark

10y↑5

Wow, the translation is bad, the Chinese guy was saying something like: they came to here is for making a living, to support and feed his family and making money. and in the subtitle only:we are doing for money. Come on make it professional.

Liberal Freedom

Corrupt officials are the ones to blame

Gary

The general says it's difficult to quantify how many minds there are because he doesn't really care as long as he gets his kick backs.

Trevor Miller

4y↑1

Its about life... food and survival... money is the evil thing here.

aaditya J

200 years back British came in as traders and bought 'security forces' for their offices in south asia. Later whole indian subcontinent was colonized via wars. The same should not happen where the resources will be mortgaged for repayment of infrastructure and other loans.

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