Africa-Press – Ghana. Chinese mining companies in Ghana are expanding investments in renewable energy, local procurement and community development, the Association of China–Ghana Mining (ACGM) has said.
The Association noted that Shandong Gold in the Upper East Region had committed to a 100-megawatt solar power project and over US$330 million in local spending in 2025.
Mr Zhang Yinming, Deputy Secretary-General of the ACGM, said the initiatives demonstrated a new phase of responsible and environmentally conscious mining being championed by Chinese firms across the country.
He made the remarks in a keynote address at the opening of a three-day training workshop for journalists on Sustainable Mining Development and Responsible Reporting at Aburi in the Eastern Region.
Mr Zhang described Shandong Gold’s Cardinal Namdini Mining Company as a model of green transformation, noting that its 100MW solar photovoltaic power plant under construction in the Upper East Region would reduce carbon dioxide emissions by an estimated 92,000 tonnes annually.
The project also incorporates a “solar–agriculture synergy” system that enables crop cultivation under the solar panels, offering communities additional livelihood opportunities.
Beyond renewable energy, Mr Zhang said the company spent over US$330 million on local procurement and employee wages in 2025, reflecting its commitment to boosting local participation.
It has also provided skills development programmes and awarded scholarships to medical students to ensure that “poverty does not limit the ambitions of talented Ghanaian youth.”
Mr Zhang, in the company of Mr Tang Zhenjiang, Chairman of the ACGM, cited similar community-focused interventions by Chifeng Gold’s Goldstar Wassa Mine, which he said had invested more than US$4.5 million into its Community Development Fund.
The fund is financed through prioritised community procurement and mandatory contributions from non-local contractors, enabling continuous investment in schools, clinics, potable water facilities and road improvements.
Mr. Zhang said these structured interventions ensured that mining benefits remained within host communities and promoted long-term socio-economic development.
“These initiatives are not isolated acts of goodwill. They form part of a broader commitment to building a shared future between mining companies and their host communities,” he noted.
Mr Zhang noted contributions from Earl International Mining Company, which constructed a modern secondary school for a host community, and personal philanthropy by Mr Kevin Wu of JH Resources, who helped restore the Demonstration School for the Deaf in Mampong-Akuapem.
Mr Zhang explained that the ACGM’s broader vision aligned with President John Dramani Mahama’s “Africa Beyond Aid” agenda, which seeks to reduce dependency through technology transfer, industrialisation and improved local capacity.
He said Chinese mining companies were strengthening Ghana’s mining value chain by introducing advanced technologies, expanding local procurement, and supporting industrial integration in related sectors such as logistics, maintenance and services.
Mr Zhang said recent policy reforms, including the removal of VAT on mineral exploration, had created a more favourable investment environment.
He assured that ACGM member companies would channel this advantage into deeper localisation, advanced environmental management and stronger community partnerships.
Mr Zhang underscored the importance of collaboration with the media, noting that responsible reporting was essential to improving public understanding of the mining sector.
He proposed regular media visits to mine sites, open information-sharing platforms and joint promotion of sustainability reporting to strengthen accountability.
The ACGM, Mr Zhang disclosed, had donated more than GH₵900,000 in the past eight months to support vulnerable groups, emergency responses and social welfare initiatives, reinforcing its role as a bridge between the Chinese mining community and Ghanaian society.
Mr Tang Zhenjiang, Chairman of the ACGM, in an interview, said the Association had been instrumental in championing investments that link mining operations directly to community development.
Under his leadership, he said, Cardinal Namdini Mining Company, operated by Shandong Gold, had prioritised local procurement and youth empowerment and undertaken major infrastructure improvements.
These include road upgrades in its operational areas to ease transportation, enhance safety and stimulate local economic activity.
Beyond company-level interventions, Mr Tang said he had personally supported a range of social initiatives aimed at improving lives in host communities.
He said he had funded scholarships for Ghanaian medical students and encouraged ACGM member companies to adopt development models that integrate environmental responsibility with long-term community welfare.
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