Ghana’s Minister of Lands and Natural Resources Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah has assured the global investor community that the country remains Africa’s most secure and rewarding mining destination.
Addressing the 23rd Africa Down Under Conference in Perth, Australia, Mr. Buah said the country’s political stability, strong governance record and position as Africa’s leading gold producer make it an attractive market for mining investment.
“You can invest in Ghana with confidence, knowing that your investments are protected by a stable political environment and a government that upholds the rule of law and sanctity of contracts,” he told delegates.
He pointed out that Ghana has enjoyed more than three decades of peaceful political transitions and attracted over US$20billion in mining investment to date. Mining currently contributes about 40 percent of the country’s export earnings.
Beyond gold, the minister highlighted opportunities in critical minerals such as bauxite, iron ore, lithium and base metals including cobalt, copper, nickel and zinc – which are essential for the global clean energy transition.
He said government entities such as the Ghana Integrated Bauxite Aluminium Development Corporation (GIADEC) and Ghana Integrated Iron and Steel Development Corporation (GIISDEC) are seeking private partners to help build integrated value chains – from mining through to refining and manufacturing. Ghana is estimated to hold more than 1.5 billion tonnes of iron ore resources.
On lithium, Mr. Buah referenced active exploration by Atlantic Lithium Ltd. and said promising geological prospects exist for other base metals. “Ghana is ready to become a reliable supplier of the minerals for the future,” he noted.
He also drew attention to Ghana’s well-established mining ecosystem, which includes more than 200 engineering and service companies and over 500 active exploration projects.
Mr. Buah stressed that Ghana’s priority is shifting from exporting raw minerals to processing and value addition. “We are committed to a paradigm-shift … ensuring mining wealth translates into tangible benefits for communities,” he said.
The minister further outlined reforms to improve transparency and investor confidence, including introduction of the Mineral Cadastre Administration System (MCAS) – a digital platform designed to speed up approvals and reduce bureaucracy in licencing.
Concluding, he appealed for investors to partner Ghana in building a mining sector based on transformation and shared value.
The Africa Down Under Conference is a key platform for promoting African mining. Ghana’s participation this year underscores its ambition to remain the continent’s top gold producer while positioning itself as a hub for critical minerals that will drive the global energy transition.
credit: bftonline
