Ghana targets bigger share of mineral wealth with mining reforms

Ghana is proposing to require mining companies to enter into community development agreements as part of reforms intended to give local people and businesses a greater stake in the industry, Lands Minister Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah has said.

Speaking at the Mining in Motion Summit in Accra, he said Cabinet had approved a revised Minerals and Mining Policy and endorsed proposed amendments to the Minerals and Mining Act for consideration by Parliament.

The proposals cover licensing, local participation and community development. The requirement for community agreements remains a proposed change, rather than an obligation established by the announcement.

Mr Buah said responsible mineral investment must deliver benefits for people living in mining areas. He also urged investors to help African countries expand beyond mineral extraction into processing and, where commercially viable, manufacturing.

“The world needs Africa’s minerals. Africa welcomes the world’s partnership,” he said.

“Come and invest. Come and build with us.”

The minister argued that mining success should be measured by how much value countries retain from their resources, rather than simply how much they export.

He identified stronger local procurement, expanded refining capacity and better gold traceability as measures being pursued to keep more of the industry’s value in Ghana.

He also stressed on investment opportunities in aluminium, lithium and other minerals, saying extraction should increasingly be linked to domestic processing, businesses and skilled employment.

Alongside the reforms, Mr Buah said the government was working to combat illegal mining, restore degraded land and support lawful small-scale miners through the Responsible Cooperative Mining and Skills Development

Programme, known as rCOMSDEP.

The Asantehene’s representative at the summit, Essumejahene Odeneho Nana Okyere Kusi Ntrama, welcomed the discussion about Ghana’s mineral future but cautioned that reforms needed transparency and a clear understanding of conditions facing investors and workers.

Speaking on behalf of Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, he said stronger partnerships and a greater African share of mineral wealth should go alongside productive businesses, employment and proper labour and safety standards.

He also called for responsible use of technology, the development of local expertise and open engagement with international partners, warning that uncertainty and partisan disputes could increase operational and financial risks.