Responsible mining must be the standard, not the exception – Dr Zanetor Rawlings

The Minister for Environment, Science and Technology, Dr Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings, has called for responsible mining practices to become the standard in Ghana, stressing that mineral extraction must not come at the expense of the environment.

She made the call after visiting Zijin Mining’s operations at New Abirem in the Eastern Region as part of a field tour to assess the environmental impact of mining activities.

Dr Agyeman-Rawlings said the visit presented a contrast to the environmental destruction she witnessed at illegal mining sites in Osino, demonstrating that mining could be conducted responsibly with deliberate measures to minimise damage and restore degraded areas.

During the visit, she said, officials of the mining company took her through their environmental management practices, including land reclamation, the rehabilitation of mined-out areas and tree planting initiatives aimed at protecting and restoring the environment.

The Minister acknowledged the importance of Ghana’s mineral resources to economic development but cautioned against extraction practices that threaten water bodies, farmlands and ecosystems.

She stressed that protecting the environment was essential to safeguarding 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 said.

Dr Agyeman-Rawlings insisted that responsible mining should not be treated as an exception but adopted as the standard across the sector.

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