The agreement was reached during a high-level meeting between the two ministers on the sidelines of the 2026 China Mining Conference in Tianjin, China.
The Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, who led the Ghanaian delegation together with Ghana's Ambassador to China, Kojo Bonsu, described the outcome as a breakthrough in efforts to streamline Ghana's mining industry and attract responsible investment.
"This is very important in how we collaborate on critical areas of the natural resources sector. This includes how to work with them in policing Chinese companies that are working in Ghana to make sure that they meet the highest standards," he said.
He said the collaboration would ensure that Chinese nationals found to be involved in illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey, face appropriate sanctions in both countries.
"Those who are found to have broken the law, especially those who engage in illegal mining activities, are not only punished in Ghana, but we have a pathway where the Chinese will also police their people who are working in Ghana," he said.
Mr Armah-Kofi Buah said the strategy would also strengthen the capacity of Ghana's Geological Survey Authority while promoting technology transfer and investment, adding that both sides had agreed on a technical team to implement the cooperation. He noted that Ghana had not had direct engagement with Chinese authorities on these issues in the past five years.
China's Deputy Minister of Natural Resources, Sun Shuxian, who led the Chinese delegation, proposed expanded collaboration in geological surveys, technological innovation, geological mapping and the assessment of critical mineral resources.
"I suggest that we can together work on geological mapping and the critical mineral resources potential assessment of the key metallogenic belts," he said, adding that China was prepared to provide satellite remote sensing, airborne geophysical surveys and other technical support to help Ghana bridge gaps in unmapped geological data.
Mr Sun also proposed joint laboratories to support prospecting for minerals including gold and lithium, and called for annual technician exchanges and joint field training. He said the China Geological Survey would follow up on the cooperation, while China's Department of International Cooperation would serve as the primary Chinese focal point.
He welcomed Ghana's decision to designate a focal person to coordinate implementation, saying it would ensure the collaboration involved "walking the talk," and invited the delegation to visit China's Ministry of Natural Resources in Beijing for further discussions.
He welcomed Ghana's decision to designate a focal person to coordinate implementation, saying it would ensure the collaboration involved "walking the talk," and invited the delegation to visit China's Ministry of Natural Resources in Beijing for further discussions.
Beyond tackling illegal and unsustainable mining, the Chinese delegation shared its experience in rehabilitating abandoned mining pits, noting that China's central government allocates about one billion yuan annually toward restoring degraded mining sites and offered to share related practices with Ghana.
Other Ghanaian officials at the meeting included the Chief Executive of the Minerals Commission, Isaac Tandoh; Director-General of the Ghana Geological Survey Authority, Dr Prosper Aduah Akaba; and the Chief Executive Officer of GIISDEC, Williams Okofo Dartey.
Leave a Comment
No comments yet. Be the first to comment!