Armah-Kofi Buah urges Ghanaian mining firms to adopt Zijin’s environmental model

Ghana's Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, has called on the nation's mining firms to emulate the environmentally responsible practices of China's Zijin Mining Group. The minister observed the Zijinshan Open-pit Gold and Copper Mine, run by Zijin Mining Group in Longyan, Fujian Province, China, during a visit on Monday, September 7, 2026.

Zijin has integrated mining operations with ecological and tourism facilities on reclaimed mining land, including a botanical garden, tea garden, fruit garden, and ecological farm. The company's approach demonstrates that mined-out land can be restored and utilized productively, as opposed to being left degraded after mineral extraction.

Armah-Kofi Buah emphasized that Ghanaian mining companies should incorporate environmental protection into every stage of their operations, particularly focusing on the construction and maintenance of road networks, protection of water bodies, environmental conservation, and land reclamation. The minister highlighted the importance of learning from Zijin's five-pronged approach to mining, which encompasses geological exploration, mining, mineral processing, metallurgy, and environmental protection.

He also noted the company's focus on road infrastructure and water management, which could serve as valuable lessons for Ghana's mining communities.