Ghana is stepping up environmental oversight of gold mines, with Chinese operators facing closure measures and South Africa’s Gold Fields also coming under scrutiny, RFI reported on 12 October 2026.
Cardinal Namdini, a subsidiary of China’s Shandong Gold, received an immediate closure notice following a tailings spill that authorities said was reported late. The Environmental Protection Authority attributed the leak to an incorrectly connected pipe.
Another Chinese operator, Earl International, was shut down the previous week over illegal extraction concerns. The company said it had resolved the problem and secured permission to resume operations on Monday, 12 October.
Gold Fields’ Tarkwa mine has also come under scrutiny, although inspection findings have not been made public. Ghana, Africa’s largest gold producer, is seeking continuous monitoring of mining operations. It is also increasing royalties and developing a new mining law to strengthen State oversight, boost revenue and expand Ghanaian participation in the sector.