Ghana to phase out raw mineral ore exports by 2030, Mahama says
Bauxite, manganese, iron and lithium are among the minerals targeted. Investors would face processing obligations under a plan intended to retain more of Ghana’s mineral wealth within the country.
Ghana plans to phase out exports of unprocessed mineral ores by 2030, President John Dramani Mahama has announced, seeking to shift more processing and industrial activity into the country.
The proposed restrictions would cover minerals including bauxite, manganese, iron and lithium. Investors seeking access to Ghana’s resources would be required to meet defined processing obligations, he said.
Speaking at the Mining in Motion Conference on Monday, October 19, 2026, Mr Mahama said the government would introduce the restrictions in stages, supported by legal measures and separate requirements for individual minerals.
“I’ve set a clear goal that by 2030, raw mineral ores should no longer leave our shores. Our bauxite, manganese, iron, lithium, and other minerals must support processing and industrial development here at home,” he said.
The announcement sets a policy target rather than an immediate blanket ban.
The president said implementation would follow published timelines, but the supplied account does not set out those dates or the order in which minerals would be affected.
“We will pursue a phased prohibition on exports of unprocessed ores, supported by the necessary legal measures, mineral-specific requirements, and transparent implementation timetables,” he said.
The government’s stated aim is to move beyond extracting minerals for export in their raw form and retain a greater share of their economic value through domestic processing.
For investors, the proposed approach would link access to mineral resources with obligations to process them. However, the announcement did not specify how much processing would be required for each mineral or how those conditions would apply to existing operations.
“Investors must understand the processing obligations associated with access to our resources,” Mr Mahama said.
He also said the government had already imposed a ban on exports of iron scrap and non-ferrous metals. That measure was presented separately from the proposed phased restrictions on unprocessed mineral ores.
The next steps outlined by the president are the legal measures, mineral-specific requirements and implementation timetables needed to put the policy into effect.