NANNING - A work team has been sent to Ghana and will persuade Chinese digging gold in the country to return home, authorities in the southern city of Nanning said on Tuesday.

Thousands of Chinese, inspired by stories of quick fortune, have flocked to Ghana in recent years as gold diggers, and most of them are from Shanglin county in Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region.

However, the Ghana government has launched a crackdown on illegal mining recently, arresting 169 Chinese workers. They have been released.

The work team, consisting of diplomatic and law enforcement officials, will also make sure Chinese gold diggers receive humanitarian treatment while they are in custody, a senior Nanning official said.

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