Ghana’s mineral wealth must not come at environmental cost – Zanetor

The Minister for Environment, Science and Technology, Dr Zanetor Agyemang-Rawlings, has called for responsible mining practices that protect Ghana’s water bodies, farmlands and ecosystems.

She said the country’s mineral resources were important to economic development but stressed that their extraction must not undermine environmental protection or the wellbeing of future generations.

Dr Agyemang-Rawlings made the remarks in a social media post on Thursday, October 29, following a field visit to Zijin Mining’s operations in New Abirem in the Eastern Region.

“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.

The minister said the visit formed part of efforts to assess the environmental impact of mining activities in the region.

She described the company’s operations as a contrast to the environmental destruction she witnessed at illegal mining sites in Osino.

According to her, the visit also provided an opportunity to examine measures being implemented by the company to minimise environmental damage and restore affected areas.

These included land reclamation, rehabilitation of mined-out areas, tree planting and other environmental management initiatives.

Dr Zanetor said responsible mining practices should become the standard across the mining sector rather than remain an exception.

“Responsible mining must not be the exception. It must be the standard,” she stressed.