Minister of Environment, Science and Technology and Klottey-Korle MP Dr Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings has called for responsible mining to become the standard in Ghana, following a visit to Zijin Mining’s operations at New Abirem in the Eastern Region.

The minister said her visit to the mining site offered a sharp contrast to the environmental destruction she witnessed at illegal mining sites in Osino, reinforcing the need for mining activities to be conducted in ways that protect the environment.

Dr Zanetor made the observations in a Facebook post following her field tour of the Eastern Region, where she assessed the environmental impact of mining activities.

During her engagement with Zijin Mining, she said she was taken through the company’s environmental management measures, including land reclamation, rehabilitation of mined-out areas and tree planting.

These initiatives, she noted, demonstrated how mining operations could incorporate measures aimed at reducing environmental damage and restoring affected land.

The minister stressed that although Ghana’s mineral resources remain important to the country’s economic development, their extraction must not threaten water bodies, farmlands and ecosystems or undermine the wellbeing of future generations.

“Our mineral resources are important to Ghana’s economic development, but their extraction must never come at the expense of our water bodies, farmlands, ecosystems and the wellbeing of future generations,” she stated.

She further insisted that responsible mining should not be treated as an exception in the industry but must become the standard for all operators.

“Responsible mining must not be the exception. It must be the standard,” Dr Zanetor declared.

Her comments come amid continuing concerns about the environmental consequences of mining in Ghana, particularly the destruction of forest cover, degradation of agricultural land and pollution of water bodies associated with illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey.

The visit to New Abirem provided an opportunity to examine environmental management practices at a mining operation, while her observations at Osino brought attention to the damage caused by illegal mining.

However, the minister’s account did not provide independent environmental assessment data or measurements to establish the extent of the damage at the Osino sites or verify the effectiveness of the measures described at Zijin Mining.

Her central message was that Ghana must pursue the economic benefits of mineral extraction without sacrificing its natural resources, public wellbeing and environmental future.

Dr Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings’ full Facebook post

As part of my field tour to the Eastern Region to assess the impact of mining activities on our environment, I also visited Zijin Mining’s operations in New Abirem.

The visit presented a striking contrast to the environmental destruction witnessed at illegal mining sites in Osino. It demonstrated that mining can be undertaken responsibly, with deliberate measures to minimise environmental damage and restore affected areas.

During the engagement, we were taken through the company’s environmental management practices, including land reclamation, rehabilitation of mined-out areas, tree planting and other initiatives aimed at protecting and restoring the environment.

Our mineral resources are important to Ghana’s economic development, but their extraction must never come at the expense of our water bodies, farmlands, ecosystems and the wellbeing of future generations.

Responsible mining must not be the exception. It must be the standard.