Emmanuel Armah‑Kofi Buah, Ghana’s Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, urged mining firms operating in the country to adopt the Zijin Mining Group’s environmentally responsible approach after a visit to the Zijinshan Open‑pit Gold and Copper Mine in Longyan, Fujian Province, China, on Monday, 7 September 2026.
The minister highlighted that the Zijin model integrates every stage of the mining value chain with reclamation, biodiversity conservation and tourism development. He noted that the company has turned former mining land into a botanical garden, tea garden, fruit garden, ecological farm and other facilities that support environmental education and attract visitors.
Buah said the Chinese company’s use of vegetation selection and water‑management measures has helped restore local flora and improve the ecological value of reclaimed areas. He stressed that Ghana’s mining sector, which has a century‑long history, still faces significant environmental challenges and that lessons from Zijin could help transform mined‑out land into productive assets rather than degraded wastelands.
The minister called for mining firms to treat road construction and maintenance, water‑body protection and land reclamation as integral parts of their operations. He pointed to Zijin’s paved roads leading to the mine and within the open‑pit area, and the company’s water‑conservation measures, as models for Ghanaian communities.
Buah also suggested that Zijin Mining Group, which has been operating in Ghana for about two years, could play a leading role in introducing its environmental practices to local companies. He said collaboration with the group could demonstrate how mining, restoration and productive post‑mining land use can coexist.
During the visit, the president of Zijin Mining Group, Lin Hongfu, spoke through an interpreter. He outlined the company’s growth over three decades, attributing it to technical expertise, advanced technology, financial commitment and a focus on remaining competitive in the global mining industry.
Buah concluded that Ghana could learn from Zijin’s integrated approach, which maximises mineral recovery while embedding environmental restoration into every phase of mining. He urged all mining companies to adopt similar practices to protect the country’s natural resources and support sustainable development.
