Ghana’s Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, has called on Shandong Gold Group to replicate its acclaimed green mining model in Ghana, as part of a broader push to transform the country’s extractive sector toward sustainable practices.
The Minister made the call during a high-level visit to Shandong Gold’s headquarters in Jinan, China, on Wednesday, September 9, 2026, where he met with the company’s President, Zhang Xiaohui, and his executive team.
“We have seen your model – the green model – planting trees, putting environmental protection and safety at the top. That is exactly what we want to replicate in Ghana. Sustainable mining is non-negotiable,” Buah stated .
A Global Gold Leader in Ghana
Shandong Gold Group ranks among the world’s top 10 gold producers and began production in Ghana in 2025 with its Cardinal Namdini Mine in the Upper East Region . The company currently holds eight exploration licences in Ghana and is seeking lease approval to operationalise additional projects.
Zhang disclosed that the Cardinal Namdini operation has an annual processing capacity of 9.5 million tonnes and that approximately 95% of the mine’s workforce are Ghanaians . The company has also committed to a 100-megawatt solar photovoltaic power project in the Upper East Region, expected to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by an estimated 92,000 tonnes annually, while supporting innovative solar–agriculture initiatives that enable crop cultivation under the solar panels .
In 2025 alone, Shandong Gold’s local procurement and employee wages in Ghana exceeded US$330 million, reflecting its commitment to local participation .
A Green Mining Model to Replicate
Shandong Gold’s green credentials are well-documented. The group has achieved 100% green mine coverage across its 36 operating mines in China, with 14 national-level green mines and 12 provincial-level green mines . In 2025, the company invested nearly RMB 300 million in environmental protection, with 19 subsidiaries certified under ISO 14001 .
The company’s practices include large-scale land rehabilitation, tree-planting initiatives, water recycling with a comprehensive utilisation rate of 100%, and comprehensive solid waste utilisation at over 80% . It has also introduced 13 solar photovoltaic power stations and is advancing smart mining technologies across its operations .
During the engagement, Buah encouraged Shandong Gold to deploy modern, cost-saving technologies, including electric mining vehicles, to reduce operational costs and minimise the environmental impact of mining activities .
Training Ghanaian Workers
The Minister expressed particular appreciation for Shandong Gold’s initiative to train Ghanaian workers in China, describing it as a sign of the company’s long-term commitment rather than a short-term business interest .
“We have seen your commitment to training Ghanaian workers in China. This is not a short-term interest; it is a long-term partnership,” Buah said.
Ghana as Africa’s Hub
Buah formally invited Shandong Gold to consider Ghana as a central hub for its broader industrial expansion across Africa, assuring the company of Ghana’s readiness to deepen the partnership on a win-win basis .
“Ghana stands fully prepared to deepen this strategic partnership on a strictly win-win framework, and I officially invited Shandong Gold to utilize our nation as their central hub for broader industrial expansion across the African continent,” the Minister said .
Context: A Century of Mining, Limited Benefits
The push for greener and more beneficial mining comes against the backdrop of Ghana’s long history as a gold producer. During the same meeting, Buah noted that Ghana has not gained enough from over 100 years of gold mining, stressing the need for the country to derive greater development benefits from its mineral resources .
He said increased investment from major mining companies such as Shandong Gold could strengthen responsible large-scale mining, create jobs, and increase value retention in Ghana’s mining sector .
A Broader Partnership
The engagement forms part of efforts by the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources to attract responsible investment while promoting environmentally sustainable mining practices in Ghana . It also aligns with the broader deepening of China–Ghana mining cooperation, which has increasingly focused on technology transfer, local content, skills development, and environmentally responsible operations .
Shandong Gold’s Zhang said the company was prepared to deepen its investments in Ghana while increasing local participation and ensuring that its operations contribute meaningfully to the country’s development .
