By Sarah Baafi
The Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, has called for a decisive shift toward deep Ghanaian participation in the mining sector, insisting that the era of enclave-style extraction must give way to inclusive, partnership-driven industrial growth.
Speaking at the 2026 Mining Sector Local Content Summit held on Tuesday at Palm Lodge, the Minister said Ghana’s vast mineral wealth must translate into long-term domestic value, skills development, and shared prosperity, rather than profits flowing largely outside the country.
Addressing government officials, diplomats, traditional leaders, mining firms, and entrepreneurs gathered in Takoradi, Mr Buah said the government is determined to ensure that Ghanaians move from being “prolific producers but passive participants” to becoming active owners, innovators, and decision-makers in the mining value chain.
“For over a century, mining has existed alongside our economy, but not fully within it,” he said. “Too much of the value created has settled elsewhere. That must change.”
The Minister traced the renewed push for mining local content to reforms previously undertaken in the petroleum sector, noting that Ghana’s local content regulations, once strongly resisted, have since become a model for other extractive industries.
He credited the political resolve of John Dramani Mahama for backing those difficult decisions at the time, saying similar courage is now required to restructure mining.
According to Mr Buah, the Minerals Commission has already developed a comprehensive Mining Local Content and Local Procurement Policy Framework, designed to prioritise Ghanaian businesses as a strategic necessity rather than an afterthought. Plans are also underway to establish a special purpose vehicle to support industrialisation, joint ventures, and sustainable partnerships.
In one of the strongest moments of the address, the Minister issued a firm warning against “fronting,” the practice where foreign companies operate behind Ghanaian names to meet regulatory requirements while retaining full control.
“This is a theft of opportunity and a betrayal of everything this summit stands for,” he cautioned, stressing that government will not tolerate such practices.
He urged Ghanaian entrepreneurs not to settle for token roles or short-term gains but to pursue equity, technology transfer, and long-term value creation through genuine partnerships.
Mr Buah emphasised that local content is not anti-investor, but pro-partnership. He highlighted opportunities for joint ventures in fabrication, engineering services, technology solutions, and mineral processing, including refining minerals locally and developing battery and energy-related industries.
He argued that when Ghanaian firms hold equity in mining operations, the benefits go beyond dividends to include a voice in decision-making and a lasting stake in the country’s future even after the minerals are depleted.
Quoting Kwame Nkrumah, the Minister said political independence without economic independence remains incomplete, adding that Ghana’s resources must ultimately serve the welfare of its people.
The Minister also called on traditional leaders to play an active role in ensuring mining communities see tangible development, pledging stronger community engagement and benefit-sharing frameworks.
As deliberations continue at the two-day summit, Mr Buah urged stakeholders to move “beyond compliance to commitment,” asking tough questions about local refining, industrial jobs, and opportunities for young Ghanaian engineers.
“These minerals are finite, but the capabilities we build can be infinite,” he said. “Now is the time for integrated, inclusive, and indigenous mining that secures Ghana’s future.”
The summit is focused on strengthening local content, indigenous participation, and sustainable partnerships across Ghana’s mining industry, as part of a broader national push for economic sovereignty and industrial transformation.
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Source:
www.gbcghanaonline.com