The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, has urged mining companies operating in Ghana to prioritise environmental protection, road development, water conservation and land reclamation alongside mineral extraction.
He said mining firms must adopt best practices that protect mining communities and restore degraded lands.
The Lands Minister made the call on Monday, September 7, 2026, after touring the Zijinshan Open-pit Gold and Copper Mine operated by Zijin Mining Group in Fujian Province, China.
He commended Zijin for integrating mining with environmental restoration and eco-tourism.
The mine has transformed reclaimed mining areas into a national mine park featuring a botanical garden, tea and fruit gardens, and an ecological farm.
The company also incorporates geological exploration, mining, mineral processing, metallurgy and environmental protection into what it describes as a five-pronged mining engineering model.
Mr. Kofi Buah said the model offers valuable lessons for Ghana, which has more than a century of mining history.
He called on Zijin Mining, which has been operating in Ghana for less than two years, to help introduce similar environmental conservation and reclamation practices locally.
He also urged other mining companies to emulate the Chinese model by protecting water bodies, improving road networks and restoring mined-out lands.
The President of Zijin Mining Group, Lin Hongfu, said the company’s growth over the past three decades has been driven by investment in technology, technical expertise, research and development, and strong financial commitment across its operations.
