Ghana’s Ambassador to China H.E Amb Edward Boateng has enumerated the actions taken by the Ghana Mission in China under his able leadership amidst forced evictions, arbitrary quarantines and mass coronavirus testing of Africans in Guangzhou.
Speaking in an interview with Samuel Eshun host of the ‘Happy Morning Show’ (HMS) H.E. Edward Boateng said: ‘’We first heard that foreigners in Guangzhou were being subjected to arbitrary testing and quarantine on the 6th of April, because unlike the previous infections in Wuhan the infections in Guangzhou were ‘imported’ hence the mass testing being conducted on foreigners.’’
READ MORE: Ambassador Boateng Stands up against maltreatment of Africans in China
He also mentioned that, based on the fact that the new cases in Guangzhou were imported, it was ideal for foreigners to be tested. ‘’We are not against mass testing and quarantining of infected persons, but we will not allow our people to be subjected to inhumane treatment. There is nothing wrong with testing people for coronavirus what is wrong is how it was being done and we explicitly expressed our dissatisfaction with the process. The Chinese authorities apologized and explained that one Nigerian who tested positive attacked a nurse and that accounted for the hostilities but they assured us that they will ensure the right things are done. And attributed it to the overzealousness on the part of the enforcing officers’’ he stated.
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The Ambassador also spoke about a marathon meeting that went on between Ghana, Kenya, Namibia, Nigeria and the Chinese government to address the maltreatment of Africans in Guangzhou.
‘’We went into a meeting for seven (7) hours and deliberated on the way forward, unfortunately, the document from that meeting was leaked. Eventually, the Chinese officials agreed they erred and will ensure these issue will be rectified. What I am looking for, is that Ghanaians will have their homes back, those who went into quarantine will come back healthy’’ he said.
He, however, advised against reprisal attacks.‘’We have built a relationship for the past sixty (60) years and we cannot afford to mess that up. From the time of Dr. Kwame Nkrumah till date. Both embassies have to work hard, I will not encourage any Ghanaian to attack anyone’’ he admonished.