China lodges representations to Ghana on mass detention

BEIJING - The Chinese Embassy in Ghana has lodged representations to the West African country over the detention of 124 Chinese nationals, Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said on Thursday.

At a daily news briefing, Hong said that the ministry and the embassy attached great importance to the matter, referring to Ghana's detention of the Chinese citizens in a crackdown on illegal gold mining.

The embassy has immediately lodged representations to high-ranking officials in Ghana's presidential palace, calling for strong discipline from Ghanaian security agencies in enforcing laws, and urging the authorities to stop Chinese citizens being robbed and ensure their security and legal rights, said the spokesman.?

According to Hong, personnel from the embassy have visited the people in custody and arranged medical care for them.

No injuries have been reported among the 124, the spokesman said.

During the briefing, Hong reiterated the Foreign Ministry's advisory that all the Chinese people in Ghana should strictly abide by local laws and regulations and not engage in any illegal activities.

The Foreign Ministry and the Chinese embassy in Ghana will continue to provide consular protection and assistance to Chinese citizens there to ensure their personal safety as well as their legitimate rights.