Chinese Migrants in Africa: Facts and Fictions from the Agri-Food Sector in Ethiopia and Ghana

Cook, Seth; Lu, Jixia; Tugendhat, H.; Alemu, Dawit

doi:10.1016/j.worlddev.2015.11.011

Cited by 41 publications

(24 citation statements)

References 10 publications

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“…In the specific case of Chinese migration to Ghana, historical records from the late 19 th century indicate that the British colonial government brought indentured Chinese labourers to the former Gold Coast (now Ghana), including a small group of 16 Chinese miners and technicians brought to work in the gold mines in 1897 (Li, : 74–75). After independence in 1957, a relatively small Chinese business community established itself in Ghana, mainly investing and working in the catering and casino industries, as well as in small‐scale agriculture (Cook et al., ). In the twenty‐first century, the number of Chinese non‐resident migrant workers in Ghana has increased, particularly in association with large‐scale government‐to‐government infrastructure projects, such as construction of arterial roads, the Bui dam and facilities related to the oil and gas industry, with the latter in particular financed through an “infrastructure‐for‐resources loan”…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

South‐South Irregular Migration: The Impacts of China's Informal Gold Rush in Ghana

Botchwey

Crawford

Loubere

et al. 2018

International Migration

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This article examines irregular South‐South migration from China to Ghana, and the role it played in transforming livelihoods and broader developmental landscapes. It looks at the entry of approximately 50,000 Chinese migrants into the informal small‐scale gold mining sector from 2008‐2013. These migrants mainly hailed from Shanglin County in Guangxi Province. In Ghana, they formed mutually beneficial relationships with local miners, both legal and illegal, introducing machinery that substantially increased gold production. However, the legal status of Chinese miners was particularly problematic as, by law, small‐scale mining is restricted to Ghanaian citizens. In mid‐2013, President Mahama established a military task force against illegal mining, resulting in the deportation of many Chinese miners. The article examines the experiences of both Chinese migrants and Ghanaian miners. Findings are that irregular migration into an informal sector had long‐lasting impacts and played a significant role in the transformation of economic, political, and physical landscapes in Ghana.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

South‐South Irregular Migration: The Impacts of China's Informal Gold Rush in Ghana

Botchwey

Crawford

Loubere

et al. 2018

International Migration

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“…As a result, overseas investment from China is both an opportunity and a challenge for host countries, and specific performance is affected by host countries' management (Anyu & Ifedi, 2008). Similarly like in Africa, while the impacts of Chinese presence on local development are modest overall, these impacts do appear to be positive in the sense that they are creating economic opportunities, both for themselves and for local people (Cook et al, 2016).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Socio-economic Impact of Chinese Agribusiness Entrepreneurs in Russian Far East on Local Farmers

Yi¹,

Gudaj²,

Arefieva³

et al. 2020

JAS

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Since the liberalization of the Sino-Soviet border in 1990's, Chinese farmers have been actively engaged in the economy of Russian Far East. Literature suggests that Chinese workers fill a labour shortage, contribute positively to local food security, with negative impacts being more socially normative and political, than economic. So far no economic empirical research exists about Chinese farmers' presence in Russian Far East. On the basis of a panel data, an econometric model was used to analyse socio-economic impact of Chinese agribusiness entrepreneurs in Russian Far East on local households. Regression models show that presence of Chinese farmers in Russian Far East increases the probability of higher well-being, farm income, food costs and share of Chinese food purchased among Russian Far East households. These results suggest that benefits of cooperation with Chinese farmers and retailers should not be ignored when designing policies towards sustainable development of rural areas in Russian Far East. Possible environmental, social and economic externalities of further soybean production in Russian Far East are also discussed.Our analysis is focused on two broad questions. First, what is the impact of Chinese farms cultivating soybean in RFE on local rural household income, well-being and costs of living (spending)? Second, what farming, legal, entrepreneurship and contextual factors influence the magnitude and relative importance impact? We investigated effects of number of Chinese farm in 20 km range (no.), selling to Chinese (0-1), share of production sold to Chinese (%) and distance to Chinese farm (km) on well-being, farm income, food cost and share of Chinese food purchased among Russian Far East households.Our hypothesis was that more farms in 20 km range and/or selling to Chinese and/or selling more to Chinese and/or closer distance to the Chinese farm will increase probability of lower well-being, lower farm income, lower food costs and greater share of Chinese food purchased among Russian Far East households. Our findings

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“…These networks can take the form of kinship relations ( xueyuan guanxi ), regional affinities ( diyuan guanxi ), friendships or work colleagues” (Cook et al . , 67).…”

Section: Pull Factorsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Golden Migrants: The Rise and Impact of Illegal Chinese Small‐Scale Mining in Ghana

Antwi‐Boateng

Akudugu

2020

Politics & Policy

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This article investigates factors that attract Chinese migrants into illegal small‐scale mining in Ghana, their role in the supply chain, and the impact of their involvement. This is accomplished via mixed qualitative techniques involving interviews with illegal small‐scale Chinese and Ghanaian miners, and relevant Ghanaian stakeholders. Although the majority of Chinese interests in African mining is state sponsored, the Ghana case demonstrates private Chinese agency that is mostly attracted to illegal small‐scale mining in Ghana due to push factors in the homeland and pull factors associated with Ghanaian state weakness. The Chinese dominate the supply chain of illegal small‐scale mining with their financial, technical, managerial acumen, the sale and transfer of gold proceeds, and political patronage. This dominance accounts for the massive negative social, economic, environmental, and political impact of illegal small‐scale mining in the country. Amid state weakness, Ghanaian civil society, exercising agency, remains a potent force against the phenomenon. Related Articles Abdulai, Abdul‐Gafaru, Justice Nyigmah Bawole, and Emmanuel Kojo Sakyi. 2018. “Rethinking Persistent Poverty in Northern Ghana: The Primacy of Policy and Politics over Geography.” Politics & Policy 46 (2): 233‐262. https://doi.org/10.1111/polp.12250 Davis, Charles. 2008. “Preemptive Federalism or Regulatory Dismantlement? The Bush Administration's Implementation of the Federal Coal Mining Reclamation Program.” Politics & Policy 36 (3): 400‐418. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1747-1346.2008.00114.x Kim, Eun Kyung. 2019. “Issue Ownership and Strategic Policy Choice in Multiparty Africa.” Politics & Policy 47 (5): 956‐983. https://doi.org/10.1111/polp.12327 Related Media The Guardian. 2013. “The Price of Gold: Chinese Mining in Ghana Documentary: Guardian Investigations.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ohrrE1rjzLo Voice of Africa. 2015. “Illegal Mining in Ghana.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=822czuf-Xxk Ghana Broadcasting Corporation. 2017. “Ghana: Media Coalition Launches Campaign against Illegal Mining.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bOwF_qYpwXI

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Chinese Migrants in Africa: Facts and Fictions from the Agri-Food Sector in Ethiopia and Ghana

Cited by 41 publications

References 10 publications

South‐South Irregular Migration: The Impacts of China's Informal Gold Rush in Ghana

South‐South Irregular Migration: The Impacts of China's Informal Gold Rush in Ghana

Socio-economic Impact of Chinese Agribusiness Entrepreneurs in Russian Far East on Local Farmers

Golden Migrants: The Rise and Impact of Illegal Chinese Small‐Scale Mining in Ghana

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