The Minister for Environment, Science and Technology, Dr Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings, has called for early investment in battery recycling facilities as Ghana prepares for increased adoption of electric vehicles.
She said the country must begin planning for the safe disposal and recycling of used batteries before the growing use of electric vehicles creates significant environmental challenges.
Dr Agyeman-Rawlings made the remarks during a working visit to Zijin Golden Ridge Company Limited at New Abirem in the Eastern Region, where she and officials of the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) led by the CEO, Professor Nana Ama Brown Klutse were briefed on the company’s operations and environmental management practices.
The minister welcomed information that discussions were underway to establish a battery recycling facility, describing the initiative as important to the country’s long-term environmental sustainability.
According to her, the increasing use of electric vehicles must be accompanied by measures to manage batteries and other components when they reach the end of their useful life.
She stressed that Ghana should adopt a forward-looking approach to environmental management rather than wait for waste disposal challenges to become a crisis before taking action.
The minister also commended the company for hosting the delegation and providing an opportunity to examine its mining and environmental management activities.
She said companies that invested in responsible mining and complied with environmental regulations needed to operate in an environment where the same laws were enforced against illegal miners.
Dr Agyeman-Rawlings said she would engage the EPA Chief Executive, Professor Nana Ama Browne Klutse, on discussions with the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources to strengthen enforcement, particularly around mining concessions.
She noted that mining companies had responsibilities to protect their concessions and report encroachment, adding that the relevant authorities also had a duty to act when illegal mining activities were reported.
Company Outlines Environmental Protection Measures
The Environment Manager for Zijin Golden Ridge Company Limited, Kwame Obeng Dapaah, said the company had demonstrated its environmental management procedures to the visiting delegation.
He said the presentation covered the identification of environmental impacts and the measures adopted to mitigate risks associated with mining operations.
According to him, the company had systems in place to manage potential impacts on forests and water resources, prevent pollution and promote responsible mining.
The delegation was also taken on a tour of the company’s open-pit mining area, tailings dam and a reforestation site.
Mr Obeng explained that the company was implementing reclamation measures in areas where further mining was not required, including reshaping disturbed land, restoring topsoil and planting trees to help re-establish vegetation.
He said the company also considered the potential future use of reclaimed land in consultation with local communities to ensure that the areas could provide benefits after mining operations ended.
On reforestation, he said the company had been required to restore 303 hectares under its agreement with the Forestry Commission after receiving permission to mine 101 hectares in a forest reserve.
He said the company had expanded its commitment to 370 hectares and expected to hand over the project to the Forestry Commission the following year.
However, Mr Obeng identified illegal mining around the company’s concession as a major challenge, saying the activities were affecting streams monitored by the company.
He said pollution from surrounding areas undermined the company’s efforts to protect water quality within its operations.
He appealed for continued support from the relevant authorities and security agencies to address illegal mining around the concession.
Eastern Regional Minister Welcomes Environmental Initiatives
The Eastern Regional Minister, Hon. Rita Akosua Adjei Awatey, welcomed the Environment Minister’s visit and the proposed interventions to strengthen environmental protection in the region.
She expressed the region’s readiness to work with the ministry, the EPA and other state institutions to address environmental challenges, including illegal mining.
The visit brought together officials of the Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology and the EPA to assess mining practices and discuss measures to strengthen environmental protection in the Eastern Region.
Story by Osman Issah Abadoo
