The Parliamentary Select Committee on Environment, Science and Technology has expressed satisfaction with the rate of environmental management systems put in place by the management of the Zijin Akyem Golden Ridge Limited (Akyem Mine).
The committee also commended the company for creating employment opportunities for the locals in their host and near the mine communities, as well as investing in sustainable mining practices and safety protocols in the area.
Environmental compliance
The committee, led by Yaw Addo Frimpong, who is also the Member of Parliament (MP) for Manso Adubia in the Ashanti Region, said the visit was to assess adherence to environmental compliance by the company.
Akyem Mine is a large-scale mining company operating in the Birim North District of the Eastern Region.
Mr Frimpong said the committee was highly impressed with the mine’s environmental management systems and, at the same time, its commitment to responsible mining operations.
“It is very obvious.
The company’s environment tells us that this is a company which is environmentally sensitive”.
Reclamation
Mr Frimpong praised the company’s reclamation efforts and stressed that the mine had exceeded its forest reclamation commitment of 303 hectares.
The Ranking Member of the committee, Professor Hamza Adam, who is also the Member of Parliament (MP) for Kumbungu in the Northern Region, said the visit formed part of the committee’s oversight responsibility to ensure that the environment had been safeguarded and human health had also been protected.
According to Prof. Adam, the reduction of carbon emissions has been beneficial for sustainable livelihoods in the community and the protection of natural resources.
Prof. Adam explained that a policy document was being developed by the Minerals Commission for all mining concessions in the country to adopt and have a comprehensive and structured alternative livelihood for the host communities.
With regards to the local content of the company, he stated that the majority of the staff were Ghanaians working for the company.
The General Manager of the Zijin Akyem Golden Ridge Limited, Agyemang Okyere, thanked the committee for the visit and indicated that the company had adhered strictly to the environmental safety protocols in line with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and other regulatory bodies in the country.
He, however, appealed to the committee to advocate on their behalf to deal with challenges such as illegal mining, bush fires, vandalism and demonstrations, which had become the major threats to the company.
Mr Okyere reiterated the mine’s commitment to responsible mining and sustainable development, stressing that environmental stewardship, local value creation and operational excellence remained central to the company’s long-term strategy.
The company, he stated, commenced operations in Ghana in April 2025 and invested over GH¢7 billion in Ghana’s economy in its first year of operations.
Source:
www.graphic.com.gh
