Zanetor charges mining companies to protect host communities
The Minister of Environment, Science and Technology (MEST), Dr Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings, has called on mining companies operating in Ghana to strictly comply with environmental laws and regulations, warning that host communities must not be left to bear the consequences of mining-related pollution, deforestation and land degradation. She said the exploitation of the country’s mineral resources…
Ghana's Minister of Environment, Science and Technology, Dr Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings, has urged mining companies operating in the country to adhere to environmental regulations, emphasizing that the exploitation of mineral resources should not come at the expense of the environment and host communities. Speaking during a visit to Zijin Golden Ridge Limited, a mining company in the Abirem area of the Eastern Region, Dr Agyeman-Rawlings commended the company's environmental sustainability initiatives, particularly its efforts in land reclamation, reforestation, and forest preservation.
She praised the company's FTS facility and its 10-year forest restoration project, highlighting the time and commitment required for ecosystem restoration. Dr Agyeman-Rawlings stressed that reclamation and reforestation must go beyond words and be integrated into mining operations as an essential part of environmental management.
The minister also welcomed Zijin's plans to establish a facility for recycling electric vehicle batteries, emphasizing the importance of responsible waste management as electric mobility grows. The company, however, faces challenges from illegal small-scale mining, with the Environment Manager expressing concern over the environmental damage caused by such activities and pledging to work with stakeholders to address the issue.
Written by urgent.news from The Chronicle Ghana's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
