President of Zijin Mine reaffirms commitment to responsible mining in Ghana

President of Zijin Mining Group, Lin Hongfu, has reaffirmed the company's commitment to operate responsibly and sustainably in Ghana, pledging to make its Ghana operations a benchmark for green mining in Africa.

Lin Hongfu gave the assurance when addressing Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, after Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah toured one of Zijin's flagship sites, the Zijinshan Open-pit Gold and Copper Mine, on Monday, September 7, 2026.

Zijin Mining, which began operations in Ghana in 2025 after acquiring the Akyem Gold Mine from Newmont, said it will develop Akyem as a model mine.

The tour was followed by a bilateral meeting at the Zijin Hotel, Xiamen.

Welcoming Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, Lin Hongfu described Zijinshan as the birthplace of Zijin Mining Group, where the company's journey from a small mine to a global mining leader began over 30 years ago.

Lin Hongfu said Zijin's global success is anchored on technological innovation, talent development, green and low-carbon mining, and community development, pillars which will be replicated in Ghana.

On innovation, Lin Hongfu said the company invests heavily in research and development, holds over 1,200 patents and deploys autonomous trucks and 5G-enabled mining operations. On talent, Lin Hongfu said Zijin has over 30,000 employees worldwide and will prioritize employment and skills transfer for Ghanaians.

Lin Hongfu showcased Zijin's 100 percent battery electric trucks and zero-carbon equipment, as well as its reclamation works where mined-out areas have been transformed into botanical gardens and parks, noting that similar green technology will be deployed in Ghana.

Lin Hongfu said Zijin believes mining must benefit host communities through schools, hospitals, roads and livelihood support.

Lin Hongfu described Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah as practical and open-minded, saying Ghana's respect for mining laws and protection of investments has boosted Zijin's confidence to invest more.

"We are impressed with Ghana's stable legal environment. This has given us confidence to invest more and to make Akyem a model of responsible mining in Africa," Lin Hongfu stated.

Lin Hongfu appealed to the Ministry to approve Zijin Ghana's revised reclamation plan and to facilitate entry visas for Chinese technicians during the construction and expansion phase.

In response, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah expressed great satisfaction about the Zijinshan mine, especially how the company has protected the environment through massive reclamation.

Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah commended Zijin Mining Company for its technological advancement and commitment to sustainable mining and called on the company to replicate the same environmental protection model in Ghana.

Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah urged Zijin Ghana to continue to abide by Ghana's minerals and mining laws and pledged government's support for responsible investors.

Ghana's Lands and Natural Resources Minister, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, is expected to speak at this year's China Mining Conference in Tianjin on Wednesday, September 10, 2026.