Former Chief Executive of the Ghana Chamber of Mines, Rev. Dr Joyce Aryee, has cautioned that Ghana’s mining industry could forfeit its vast potential if the country fails to adopt bold leadership anchored in long-term strategic thinking.
Addressing participants at the second session of the Africa Extractive Media Fellowship (AEMF) in Accra on Wednesday, 26 November, Dr Aryee emphasized that mere adherence to existing mining regulations will not guarantee sustainable national development.
According to her, while legal compliance remains important, it is not enough to transform mineral wealth into enduring prosperity. She called for courageous and visionary leadership capable of charting a clear national direction spanning the next 20 to 40 years.
“What Ghana needs is national courage backed by a clear vision of where the country wants to be in the next 20, 30, or 40 years,” she said, underscoring the importance of foresight in converting mineral resources into intergenerational wealth.
Dr Aryee described Ghana’s current planning architecture as “very deficient,” arguing that the absence of a coherent long-term blueprint for the mining sector exposes the country to short-term exploitation. In her view, without a strategic roadmap, the focus remains tilted toward immediate revenue generation at the expense of environmental protection, community wellbeing, and sustainable growth.
She warned that the consequences of weak planning in mining extend beyond the sector itself. The former mining executive pointed to broader development challenges, noting that educational and professional training outputs—particularly in areas such as law—are often disconnected from the nation’s long-term economic direction. This misalignment, she suggested, contributes to graduate frustration and a workforce insufficiently equipped to drive structural transformation.
Dr Aryee emphasised that mining must strike a careful balance between economic returns and responsible stewardship of natural resources. She urged policymakers, industry players, and civil society actors to work collectively toward a comprehensive national vision that integrates mining into Ghana’s broader development agenda.
Such a framework, she said, should prioritise innovation, environmental sustainability, and strong community engagement, while ensuring that natural resources are preserved for future generations.
“Compliance alone will not save our rivers, forests, and communities,” she cautioned. “We need leaders who can see beyond the present, plan strategically, and act courageously to ensure that our mineral wealth drives sustainable development for decades to come.”
Her remarks add to growing calls for structural reforms within Ghana’s extractive sector, amid ongoing debates about illegal mining, environmental degradation, and the long-term management of the country’s mineral resources.
By: Christian Kpesese/www.naturalresourcesnews.com
