By Jibril Abdul Mumuni
Accra, June 4, GNA – The Ghana Chamber of Mines says corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives by mining companies, though important, are insufficient to drive sustainable development in host mining communities.
The long-term development in mining areas, it said, must be anchored on value retention, local economic participation, and deliberate policy direction rather than reliance on corporate donations and social projects.
Mr Michael Edem Akafia, President of the Ghana Chamber of Mines, and Dr Kenneth Ashigbey, Chief Executive Officer of the Chamber, made the remarks during discussions at the 2026 West African Mining and Power Expo (WAMPEX).
The WAMPEX 2026 forum brought together policymakers, industry leaders, and stakeholders to discuss ways of leveraging responsible mining and energy development to accelerate sustainable growth in West Africa.
Mr Akafia noted that while mining companies had invested significantly in community projects over the years, including infrastructure, health, and education, those efforts alone could not transform local economies.
“Development in mining communities cannot be driven solely by corporate social responsibility. What is critical is how much value is retained within those communities through economic activity,” he said.
Experiences from leading mining jurisdictions showed that sustainable development was achieved through strong local economies built around mining operations, rather than CSR interventions.
Citing global comparisons, Mr Akarfia observed that cities such as Johannesburg did not develop because of corporate social responsibility activities but through deliberate value retention strategies, including industrialisation, job creation, and local enterprise growth.
He said key drivers of development should include host community procurement and employment, which ensure that businesses and residents in mining areas benefited directly from economic opportunities within the sector.
Dr Ashigbey, on his part, explained that mining companies had, in recent years, been tracking procurement spending and employment within host communities as part of efforts to improve local economic outcomes.
“Our social licence to operate depends on how well we integrate with our communities. This goes beyond CSR to ensuring that local people benefit directly through jobs, contracts, and business opportunities,” he said.
Dr Ashigbey advocated stronger policies to promote local content, urging a shift from import-based participation to the establishment of local industries linked to mining.
He noted that true local content should involve the production of goods and services within Ghana and, more importantly, within mining communities to create sustainable jobs and businesses that would outlast the life of the mines.
“Among the initiatives highlighted were efforts to promote local manufacturing of mining inputs such as cables and grinding media, as well as proposals to establish industries like activated carbon production in mining areas,” he said.
Such initiatives would not only support mining operations but also create alternative economic opportunities and export potential for communities.
He also called for greater alignment between government policy and mining revenues to ensure that resources generated from mining were directed into strategic investments in affected areas.
He reiterated the Chamber’s proposal for a dedicated framework similar to the Petroleum Revenue Management model to guide the allocation and utilisation of mineral revenues, with a focus on infrastructure, education, and industrial development.
He noted that without such coordinated efforts, mining communities would continue to face development challenges despite the significant wealth generated from their resources.
He stressed that a shift towards value addition, local enterprise development, and targeted investments would help transform mining communities into sustainable economic hubs.
GNA
Edited by Agnes Boye-Doe