President John Dramani Mahama has announced plans to phase out the export of unprocessed minerals by 2030 as part of a broader strategy to accelerate industrialisation, promote local value addition and maximise Ghana’s mineral wealth.

The proposed ban will cover bauxite, manganese, iron ore, lithium and other minerals, with the government seeking to shift the country’s mining industry from raw material exports to domestic processing and manufacturing.

Speaking at the 2026 Mining in Motion Conference in Accra, President Mahama said Ghana could no longer afford to export its mineral resources only to import finished products manufactured from the same raw materials at higher costs.

He stressed that the policy would be implemented gradually through legislation, mineral-specific processing requirements and clearly defined timelines to allow investors and industry players to adjust.

“By 2030, raw mineral ores should no longer leave our shores,” the President declared.

“Our alumina, manganese, iron, lithium and other minerals must support processing and industrial development here at home,” he added.

President Mahama explained that the initiative was intended to create skilled employment, attract investment into mineral processing and strengthen Ghana’s position in the global mineral value chain.

He said legislation alone would not achieve the government’s industrialisation objectives without corresponding investments in infrastructure, reliable energy, financing and technical expertise.

According to him, investors seeking access to Ghana’s mineral resources must be prepared to establish processing facilities locally rather than continue exporting unprocessed ores.

The President assured investors that the government would work to provide a predictable regulatory environment, efficient approval processes, adequate water supply, reliable electricity and improved transport infrastructure to support industrial development.

He identified the Ghana Integrated Aluminium Development Corporation (GIADEC) and the Ghana Integrated Iron and Steel Development Corporation (GIISDEC) as critical institutions for developing domestic aluminium and steel industries.

President Mahama said these institutions would play important roles in ensuring that Ghana’s bauxite and iron ore deposits supported local manufacturing and industrial expansion.

He further indicated that the Ghana Gold Board and the government’s gold refining policy were designed to retain a greater share of the economic value generated from the country’s gold resources.

Government to Expand Local Participation in Mining

As part of efforts to increase Ghanaian participation in the mining industry, President Mahama announced plans to introduce a local content policy aimed at transitioning mining operations from owner mining to contract mining undertaken by indigenous Ghanaian companies.

He explained that the initiative would create opportunities for local businesses to participate more actively in mining operations while strengthening domestic technical capacity.

The President, however, assured workers in existing gold mining operations that the proposed transition would not adversely affect their salaries and conditions of service.

He emphasised that the government’s objective was to build a competitive mining industry that provided sustainable employment and greater economic opportunities for Ghanaians.

Gold Board Records $10.8bn in Small-Scale Gold Exports

Touching on developments in the gold sector, President Mahama disclosed that the Ghana Gold Board, established in April 2025, had generated $10.8 billion from regulated small-scale gold exports.

He said the figure represented a significant increase over the $4.66 billion recorded in 2024.

According to the President, gold exports from the artisanal and small-scale mining sector increased to 104 tonnes between April and December 2025, compared with 64 tonnes recorded in 2024.

He attributed the performance to measures aimed at improving regulation, formalising gold trading and strengthening the country’s ability to capture more revenue from mineral exports.

Mahama Calls for United African Front on Minerals

President Mahama also called on African countries to adopt a common position in negotiating mineral agreements with international investors to ensure that the continent received fair economic returns from its natural resources.

He expressed concern that Africa continued to lose substantial economic value through agreements that prioritised raw material extraction over local processing and industrial development.

The President maintained that stronger cooperation among mineral-producing countries would improve Africa’s bargaining power and help secure more favourable investment arrangements.

He urged African governments to prioritise partnerships that promoted technology transfer, employment creation, industrial development and sustainable economic growth.

The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, reiterated the government’s commitment to building a mining industry that delivered greater benefits to Ghanaians.

He said although the world continued to depend heavily on Africa’s mineral resources, future partnerships must be based on fairness, shared prosperity and mutual economic benefits.

Mr. Buah assured investors that the ministry would continue to support private-sector participation while promoting responsible mineral exploitation and domestic value addition.

Traditional Leaders Demand Transparency

Representing the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, the Paramount Chief of Essumegya, Odeneho Okyere Kusi Ntrama, called for transparency and accountability in the implementation of mining policies and investment agreements.

He said the mining industry required substantial financial resources and long-term planning, making transparency essential to building investor confidence and preventing political controversies.

Odeneho Ntrama urged stakeholders to remain committed to responsible resource management to ensure that Ghana’s mineral wealth benefited present and future generations.

The 2026 Mining in Motion Conference was organised by the Ashanti Green Initiative, led by Nana Kwaku Duah, a son of the Asantehene, with the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources serving as the principal convening partner.

The event received support from the World Bank, World Gold Council and African Union.

It brought together high-level government officials, international development partners and mining industry stakeholders, including Liberia’s Vice-President, Jeremiah Kpan Koung; former UK Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab; and OECD Secretary-General Mathias Cormann.

Other participants included the Minister for Environment, Science and Technology, Dr. Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings, as well as ministers and representatives from Guinea, Tanzania, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Malawi and Liberia.

The conference provided a platform for discussions on sustainable mining, investment opportunities, mineral beneficiation and strategies to ensure that Africa derived greater economic benefits from its natural resources.