By: Jennifer Nerkie Kenney
A high-powered delegation from Zambia has paid a benchmarking visit to the Tarkwa Goldfields Mine in the Western Region of Ghana as part of a study tour on mining operations and best practices in the extractive sector.
The visit, which formed part of a broader engagement with Ghana’s Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources and its associated agencies, sought to deepen the team’s understanding of the structure, regulation, and environmental management of Ghana’s large-scale mining industry.
Welcoming the visitors, the Relieving Manager of Tarkwa Gold Mine, Mr. Kwame Appau, expressed appreciation for the delegation’s visit and assured them of a comprehensive learning experience during their stay.
“You have come to one of the biggest operations you can have. We will take you through a presentation and then to the field, where you will get a bird’s-eye view of the plant and the pit operations,” Mr. Appau remarked.
The Head of Delegation from Zambia, Brigadier General Chishala Mulenga, explained that the visit was designed to complement earlier discussions with Ghanaian regulatory bodies under the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources.
“After visiting all the agencies under the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, we thought that a site visit to the mine would give us a clearer picture of how large-scale mining is conducted in Ghana,” he stated.
He added that the team aimed to understand the environmental impact, operational practices, and lessons that could be drawn from Ghana’s experience.
Following the tour of the Tarkwa Goldfields Mine, the Zambian delegation also visited Dagete Gold Mining Limited, a small-scale mining operation in the Tarkwa area, to observe how artisanal miners are contributing to Ghana’s mining landscape.
The visit provided the Zambian team with valuable insights into Ghana’s integrated mining framework, which balances large-scale industrial operations with small-scale mining activities, and underscored the importance of responsible and sustainable mining practices, the statement added.
