African leaders gathered at the African Minerals Policy Forum in Accra have demanded stronger regional collaboration to process minerals domestically instead of exporting raw materials. This second edition of the forum seeks to harmonize mineral policies across the continent, reinforcing industry development and drawing investment into processing and manufacturing sectors.
President John Dramani Mahama of Ghana condemned the historical pattern of exporting unprocessed minerals while importing finished products. He pointed to Ghana’s manganese and bauxite shipments from Takoradi as a case in point, announcing plans to prohibit raw ore exports by 2030 through phased restrictions supported by legal measures and implementation timelines.
Major obstacles include securing stable energy supplies, improving transport networks, and obtaining financing for processing facilities. He said African countries must also coordinate their negotiating positions to prevent competition among them from weakening their ability to secure better terms from mining companies.
Francisca Tatchouop Belobe, the African Union’s commissioner for economic development and minerals, revealed that Africa holds nearly 30% of the world’s critical mineral reserves yet captures only a small share of the value generated from them. She argued that the continent must transition from extraction to processing, manufacturing, and establishing competitive domestic industries.
To realize this objective, she proposed stricter enforcement of existing agreements, including the African Mining Vision, the African Green Minerals Strategy, and the African Continental Free Trade Area. These frameworks would support regional value chains while reducing reliance on foreign processing operations.
The emphasis on local processing was reinforced by Liberia’s Vice President Jeremiah Koung, who called for shared principles in mineral development while accommodating national variations. He highlighted regional infrastructure projects, transparent mining contracts, and community development as key priorities, stressing early planning for mine decommissioning and post-mining livelihood programs.
Ghana’s Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, detailed government initiatives to increase local involvement in mining and connect the sector to domestic industries. The administration has approved a revised minerals policy and proposed changes to the Minerals and Mining Act, aiming to create more local jobs, enhance workforce skills, and strengthen environmental safeguards. Buah also insisted on tougher local content and procurement requirements to enable Ghanaian businesses to participate meaningfully in the mining industry.
