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Dr Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings has called on mining companies to comply fully with Ghana’s laws and environmental regulations, stressing that mineral extraction must not come at the expense of host communities.
Speaking during an inspection of Zijin Golden Ridge Limited in the Abirem area of the Eastern Region, she said communities should not be left to bear the consequences of environmental degradation and deforestation caused by mining operations.
She urged companies to make environmental protection central to their activities and follow the protocols designed to minimize damage to ecosystems.
Dr Agyeman-Rawlings emphasized that compliance is essential to safeguarding the interests of residents whose lives and livelihoods are affected by mining. She described it as unjust for communities hosting such operations to suffer environmental harm.
She also highlighted the expanded mandate of the Environmental Protection Agency, saying its oversight powers would be used to strengthen compliance across the mining sector and protect Ghanaian citizens.
Her remarks echoed earlier warnings by the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, who cautioned foreign investors against bypassing regulatory requirements.
Buah has maintained that multinational companies operating in Ghana must respect the country’s mining laws and face consequences when they breach them.
Source: Omanghana
