Ghana will eliminate the export of raw mineral ores within the next five years as part of efforts to industrialize the mining sector and retain value within the economy.
President John Dramani Mahama made the declaration at the Maiden Mining Local Content Summit 2026 in Sekondi-Takoradi, Western Region, stating that it is no longer acceptable for Ghana to continue exporting raw ores while importing finished products.
“It is no longer acceptable for Ghana to continue to export raw ores and import finished products. We must aim to eliminate raw exports within the next five years,” President Mahama stated.
He announced that the government will support the establishment of refineries and bullion infrastructure to process Ghana’s mineral wealth locally before export.
The President disclosed plans to promote mineral-based industrial clusters and facilitate downstream processing of bauxite, manganese, and lithium to align Ghana’s mining strategy with the global green energy transition.
“Our mineral wealth must empower Ghana’s industrialization, not merely sustain export dependence,” President Mahama said.
The elimination of raw exports forms the second pillar of the government’s five-pillar strategy for local content transformation in the mining sector.
President Mahama explained that while Ghana generated almost $6.6 billion in export revenues from the extractive sector in 2023, local participation in high-value segments remains very limited, with domestic procurement accounting for only a fraction of total sectoral spend.
He noted that Ghana is Africa’s leading gold producer and among the top six globally, yet much of the high-value activity in the mining value chain, including advanced engineering, processing, equipment manufacturing, technical services, and refining, still takes place outside the country’s borders.
The President cited examples from other countries that have successfully implemented similar policies, including Indonesia, which mandated domestic processing of nickel and repositioned itself at the center of the global electric vehicle battery supply chain.
“Smart, enforceable, and forward-looking local content policies do not deter investment. They create sustainable competitiveness,” President Mahama stated.
He emphasized that the government is reviewing and refining mining legislation and regulatory frameworks to ensure that Ghanaian enterprises move up the mining value chain from suppliers of consumables to manufacturers of components.
The President announced that equity participation, technology transfer, and knowledge sharing must become standard practice in mining operations rather than the exception.
President Mahama also revealed plans to establish a national mining innovation and research hub to institutionalize knowledge sharing and technology adaptation for Ghana-specific mining challenges.
He called on Ghanaian entrepreneurs to prepare, build partnerships, and compete for opportunities in the transforming mining sector, while urging international investors to engage in genuine collaboration that embeds capacity within Ghana’s economy.
The President stressed that the summit must deliver more than declarations, calling for a binding commitment and a shared national pact to make Ghana’s mining industry thrive.
Richard Aniagyei, ISD
