Asantehene backs Mahama’s push to process Ghana’s minerals locally
Speaking on behalf of Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, the Essumejahene said domestic processing could help turn mineral wealth into industrial development. At the same conference, Mahama reported seizures of 135 excavators and nearly 200 firearms in operations against illegal mining.
The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has backed President John Dramani Mahama’s push to process more of Ghana’s minerals locally, saying the approach could help the country retain greater economic benefits from its natural resources.
The endorsement was delivered on his behalf by the Essumejahene, Nana Okyere Kusi Ntrama, at the Mining in Motion conference on Monday, October 19, 2026.
He said the government’s focus on domestic processing remained important despite controversy surrounding the Ghana Gold Board, known as GoldBod.
Nana Okyere Kusi Ntrama argued that stronger control over mineral resources and the development of local processing capacity could help Ghana break the cycle of poverty.
He linked that ambition to Ghana’s early industrial development aspirations under its first president, Dr Kwame Nkrumah.
“Regardless of the controversies surrounding the Gold Board, there should be no doubt that the nature of the President’s reset agenda takes us right back to the very foundation of our republic, when Dr Kwame Nkrumah sought to harness our minerals and move to establish a gold refinery in Tarkwa,” he said.
His remarks focused on using minerals to support production and industrial development within Ghana, rather than exporting them in their raw state.
Mahama reports illegal mining seizures
At the same conference, President Mahama said operations against illegal mining, commonly known as galamsey, had resulted in the seizure of more than 8,200 items of equipment.
He said these included 135 excavators, alongside changfan machines and other equipment used in illegal mining. Nearly 200 firearms had also been recovered, he added.
“We have achieved some successes in the fight against illegal mining. We have confiscated more than 8,200 items. This includes changfan machines, excavators, and other equipment used in illegal mining,” he said.
“We’ve confiscated 135 excavators that were being used in illegal mining, and we have retrieved almost 200 firearms that the people involved in illegal mining had.”
The excavators form part of the equipment total cited by the president and should not be counted as an additional 135 seizures.