ACCRA, Ghana (AP) - A spokesman for Ghana's immigration service said that 161 Chinese nationals, who were arrested for illegal gold mining this week, will be deported to China.

Mr Francis Palm-Deti, spokesman for Ghana's Immigration Service, said the miners were arrested between Saturday and Wednesday. It brings to 181 the total number of Chinese that the country's immigration office has arrested within the past month in this African nation.

The Chinese gold-diggers are accused of forcibly taking over people's land in farming areas near artisanal mines.

Farmer Nana Kwame Yeboah, whose crops were destroyed, said that they arrived at night. When he woke up, he found the Chinese had taken over his farm. He said they waved a gun at him when he tried to approach.