Shirley Ayokor Botchway, Foreign Affairs Minister
The Kristiansand Chapter of the Union of Ghanaians in Norway has condemned what it terms the inhuman treatment of Africans in China.
The condemnation emanates from the ill-treatment meted out to Africans in the Chinese city of Guangzhou in the face of the global COVID-19 pandemic.
It is a reaction from the April 27, 2020 report by the UK-based media organisation, The Guardian, headlined: “China fails to stop racism against Africans over Covid-19” which story mentioned that some of the Africans maltreated by Chinese nationals came from Nigeria, Ethiopia, Ghana and Kenya.
In a statement jointly signed by Dr. Stephen Zamore, Emmanuel Tay and Joseph Kyei-Boateng, chairman, vice chairman and secretary respectively, the members of the Ghana Union of Norway said they found it distasteful in the eyes of respect for humanity.
According to the group the over 7.7 billion global population notwithstanding Africans or Asians, North Americans or South Americans, Europeans or Oceanians are all one people in one family in the world and that inhuman treatment of people here in Norway or any other country including China, affects us directly and indirectly.
In this vein, the group expects China to resort to diplomacy and ride on the skins of international relations in dealing with foreign nationals in their country.
“Even if Africans or others of different race are flouting national rules or laws in China, we expect that Chinese officials deal with them according to the law but not to subject them to inhuman treatment”, it was stated.
The Union acknowledged the important role China plays in the global economy and urged China as a member state of the United Nations (UN), a global body that unites people across continents and also as a permanent member of the UN Security Council, to commit to the UN 1948 Human Rights to respect humanity irrespective of race.
The Ghana Union of Norway also acknowledged that in as much as China is committed to joining the World Health Organisation (WHO) in finding solution to the COVID-19, it must also commit to respecting humanity.
It has therefore urged all African Embassies and Missions in China, especially, those of Nigeria, Ethiopia, Ghana and Kenya, to rise and mend the “broken issues” with China on behalf of their nationals who are being victimized and dehumanized without restraint.
“It is time China says no to racism”, the group advised.
Other signatories of the statement, which was brought to the attention of the Ghanaian Embassy in Oslo, Norway and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration in Ghana, were Priscilla Serwaah and Joseph Agana, Financial Secretary and Organiser respectively.
