Leave Chinese alone - Prostitutes cry out

Some Chinese living in Ghana have been in the news for the bad reasons - illegal mining.

The government knowing the dire consequences of illegal mining has begun hounding its operators, many of whom are Chinese, out of the country.

Many Ghanaians may be happy with government's initiative, but sex workers (prostitutes) in Dunkwa-on-Offin are not happy with the situation.

They are pleading with government to leave the Chinese galamsey operators alone. Their reason is simple – the presence of the Chinese and other nationals who engaged in galamsey, is a market for their (sex workers) ‘services’.

The Independent has learnt the business of the sex workers was booming as the foreign nationals, especially, the Chinese paid high for sex more than many Ghanaians.

Commercial sex workers in Dunkwa-on-Offin charge between GHc60 and GHc100 for short time while sleeping overnight costs between GHc200 and GHc300.

In an interview with The Independent, a sex worker who gave her name as Victoria said the sex business was profitable in their area more than places like Kumasi, Accra and Takoradi because the foreigners were generous in parting money easily than their Ghanaian counterparts.

“The galamsey operators don’t even ask for reduction for our services; they accept whatever prices we give them,” Victoria said.

“The Chinese galamseyers pay well unlike the ordinary Ghanaian who would ask for reduction,” she added.

This business has attracted sex workers from other regions in Ghana as well as neighboring countries like Nigeria, Cote d’Ivoire and Togo.

Some of the sex workers told the paper that the sacking of the Chinese miners would destroy their (sex workers) market and eventually kick them out of business.

“The Chinese miners have given our business a new lease of life and some of us depended on this for our upkeep,” Gifty, another sex worker, pleaded with the government.

“Instead, the government can give the Chinese miners some tax to pay. Doing so would increase revenue for the government and also safeguard our job,” she indicated.

In recent times, government has stepped-up its efforts at clamping down on illegal small scale mining in Ghana, considering its dire consequences on the country’s environment and people.

Many foreign nationals, especially, the Chinese have been apprehended and deported from the country.