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The Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Alhaji Yusif Sulemana (MP), has held talks with China’s Zijin Group of Companies on ways to enhance Ghana’s mining sector and foster environmental protection. The meeting, which was held on the sidelines of this year’s China Mining Conference, brought together leading figures in the global mining industry to deliberate on critical issues within the sector. In his interaction with the leadership of the Zijin Group on October 24, the Deputy Minister noted that despite the vast prospects within the mining sector, stakeholders must make environmental preservation a central priority. Using Ghana as a case study, he reaffirmed the government’s commitment to safeguarding the environment through the Responsible Cooperative Mining and Skills Development Programme (rCOMSDEP) and other environmentally friendly initiatives. According to him, the balance between mutual benefits and environmental protection remains a key pillar in Ghana’s mining agenda and will continue to guide its engagement with the Zijin Group and other international partners. “We want to assure Zijin that the Government of Ghana is ready to partner with you for mutual benefits,” the Minister added. Touching on the continuous collaboration between the two parties, Alhaji Yusif Sulemana said Ghana is also open to receiving support from the Zijin Group in addressing the menace of illegal mining that has plagued the country. He urged the company to contribute actively to Ghana’s efforts to restore degraded lands and polluted water bodies through knowledge transfer and technical assistance — a move he believes would further enhance China’s image in Ghana’s renewed fight against illegal mining. Responding to the Deputy Minister’s remarks, the representative of the Zijin Group stressed the company’s commitment to helping Ghana maximize its mineral resources while ensuring environmental sustainability. The two leaders later toured one of Zijin’s mining sites, where Alhaji Sulemana commended the company for its innovation and continuous contributions to the global mining ecosystem. It is expected that the rapport between Ghana and the Zijin Group will deepen further following the successful engagements between the Deputy Lands Minister and the leadership of one of China’s largest multinational mining corporations — the Zijin Group.
