The Parliamentary Select Committee on Environment, Science and Technology has commended Zijin’s Akyem Mine for its environmental stewardship, local employment milestones, and ongoing investments in sustainable mining practices following an oversight visit to the operation.
The visit formed part of the Committee’s constitutional mandate to assess compliance with environmental regulations and review sustainability practices within Ghana’s extractive sector.
Chairman of the Committee, Yaw Frimpong Addo, said the Committee was impressed by the mine’s environmental management systems and visible commitment to responsible operations.
“It is obvious, looking at the environment, that this is a company that is environmentally sensitive,” he said.
“From the briefings and our tour of the site, including the mining and dumping areas, it is evident that they have almost fully complied with the protocols of environmental readiness for business. So far, the Committee is impressed with what they have here.”
Frimpong Addo also praised the company’s reclamation efforts, noting that the mine had exceeded its forest reclamation commitment of 303 hectares.
The Committee further welcomed the company’s extension of its reclamation and biodiversity initiatives beyond the mine lease area into the Atewa landscape, describing the approach as laudable and worthy of further review.
Zijin Golden Ridge Limited has launched Ghana’s first large-scale mining biodiversity offset. The Zijin Atewa Biodiversity Offset Project is a 10-year conservation programme implemented in partnership with the Forestry Commission of Ghana.
Ranking Member of the Committee, Prof. Hamza Adam, highlighted the company’s efforts to reduce its operational carbon footprint, citing investments in solar infrastructure and electric vehicles as important steps toward greener mining operations.
“One thing that I am impressed about the company is their commitment towards making the environment green. We have noticed the installation of solar panels and the procurement of electric vehicles, which we believe is a step in the right direction.”
Prof. Adam also commended the mine’s local content performance, particularly the strong Ghanaian representation within its workforce.
“In terms of local content, we are impressed because we noticed that the majority of the workers are Ghanaian,” he said.
The Committee encouraged the company to sustain and strengthen its environmental management practices as operations expand, emphasizing the importance of maintaining high standards over the life of the mine.
Management of Akyem Mine reaffirmed its commitment to responsible mining and sustainable development, noting that environmental stewardship, local value creation, and operational excellence remain central to the company’s long-term strategy.
Zijin Golden Ridge Limited commenced operations in Ghana in April 2025 and has invested over GHS 7 billion into the Ghanaian economy in its first year of operation.
