By James Amoh Junior, GNA
Accra, Oct. 19, GNA – President John Dramani Mahama on Monday set 2030 as the target for Ghana to end the export of raw mineral ores as part of efforts to expand domestic processing, promote industrialisation and create jobs.
He said the country’s bauxite, manganese, iron, lithium and diamond resources must increasingly support local processing and manufacturing instead of being exported in their unprocessed forms.
President Mahama announced this when he addressed the 2026 Mining in Motion Conference, where he outlined the Government’s plans to strengthen value addition across the mining and minerals sector.
He said the Government would introduce a phased prohibition on the export of unprocessed mineral ores, supported by the necessary legal measures, mineral-specific requirements and clear implementation timelines.
The policy, he said, was intended to ensure that Ghana derived greater economic benefits from its mineral resources through domestic refining, processing and the production of finished and semi-finished goods.
He said investors must recognise that access to Ghana’s mineral resources would increasingly come with clear obligations to support local processing and industrial development.
President Mahama noted that the Government had already imposed a ban on the export of iron scrap and non-ferrous metals as part of broader efforts to retain valuable materials within the domestic economy.
He acknowledged that the transition to local value addition would require deliberate investment in infrastructure, technical skills, energy and financing to make domestic mineral processing competitive.
The President said the Government would work to create the conditions necessary for businesses to establish and expand processing facilities in the country, while encouraging private-sector players and development finance institutions to support viable projects.
Public investment, he emphasised, must be disciplined, with major initiatives guided by clearly defined responsibilities, measurable outcomes and transparent reporting.
On the aluminium industry, President Mahama said the Government intended to modernise the Volta Aluminium Company (VALCO) and develop domestic aluminium refining to strengthen the value chain, from bauxite mining and smelting to the manufacture of aluminium products.
He said efforts to develop the iron and steel industry would also build on existing manufacturing capacity to supply the construction, transport and mining sectors, while positioning Ghana to compete more effectively in the African market.
The President said the Government’s 24-hour economy agenda could help coordinate production and services, expand industrial output and create employment opportunities.
He said the broader objective was to transform Ghana’s mineral wealth into a stronger industrial base, creating greater opportunities for local businesses, technology development and skilled employment.
President Mahama said the reforms would be implemented in phases, taking into account the specific requirements of different minerals and the investments needed to establish sustainable domestic processing capacity.
He emphasised that the success of the policy would depend on effective implementation, adequate infrastructure, access to capital and a predictable regulatory environment that encouraged investment while advancing national development objectives.
The proposed measures form part of the Government’s broader industrialisation agenda, which seeks to retain more value from Ghana’s natural resources, strengthen domestic manufacturing and increase the mining sector’s contribution to economic transformation.
GNA
Edited by Agnes Boye-Doe
Reporter: James Amoh Junior
Email: [email protected]