Beijing has called for a probe in Ghana after a 16-year-old Chinese national was killed and around 100 others were arrested during a police raid on an alleged illegal gold mine.

"I can confirm that a 16-year-old Chinese citizen was killed during a police crackdown at an illegal mining site near Kumasi," said Yu Jie, the political director at the Chinese embassy in Ghana.

He said around 100 Chinese nationals were arrested on suspicion of illegal mining activities during the October 11 crackdown and called for an investigation.

"We have asked the Ghanaian government to investigate the issue so that innocent Chinese are not shot dead by the police," he said.

Ghana authorities were not immediately available for comment.

Gold-rich Ghana has launched a clampdown on illegal miners in recent months as the west African nation has grappled with an influx of alleged illegal small-scale miners from China.

Ghana is the second-largest gold producer in Africa, after continental powerhouse South Africa. Gold accounts for more than 90 percent of its mineral exports.