Mahama: Mining must leave communities better than it found them

President John Dramani Mahama has declared that Ghana’s mining sector must prioritize community welfare and long-term sustainability, insisting that extractive activities should leave a positive and lasting impact on host communities.

Speaking at the maiden Mining Local Content Summit in Takoradi, President Mahama stressed that responsible mining must go hand in hand with economic growth.

“Mining must leave our communities better than it found them,” the President stated firmly, drawing applause from stakeholders gathered at the summit.

Ghana, Africa’s leading gold producer and one of the top six globally, generated nearly $6.6 billion in export revenues from the extractive sector in 2023. However, President Mahama noted that the benefits of mining have not always translated into meaningful development for mining communities.

“We have been prolific producers, but we have yet to become full participants in the extracted value chain,” he said. “This summit is about closing that gap.”

Responsible and Community-Centered Mining

The President emphasized that local content cannot be separated from responsible environmental and social practices.

“Local content cannot be separated from responsible and community-centered mining,” he said. “Traditional authorities and MMDAs will continue to play a decisive role in monitoring compliance and safeguarding community interests.”

President Mahama revealed that government is strengthening development agreements and community engagement frameworks under revised mining regulations to ensure transparency and accountability.

He also reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to tackling illegal mining and environmental degradation.

“We will continue the fight against illegal mining and work to formalize the artisanal and small-scale mining sector,” he said. “We will intensify efforts to clean our water bodies and reclaim degraded lands.”

Beyond Raw Exports

Beyond environmental responsibility, President Mahama called for structural reforms to ensure Ghana benefits more from its mineral wealth.

“It is no longer acceptable for Ghana to continue exporting raw gold and importing finished products,” he declared. “Our mineral wealth must power Ghana’s industrialization—not merely sustain export dependence.”

He outlined a five-pillar strategy aimed at boosting local participation, promoting value addition, strengthening skills development, advancing technology and innovation, and expanding indigenous ownership in the sector.

“What will be the legacy of our mineral wealth 100 years from now?” the President asked. “Will it be recorded only in export statistics and royalty payments, or will it be remembered as the foundation upon which we built world-class industries and thriving Ghanaian enterprises?”

Call for Shared Responsibility

President Mahama stressed that government alone cannot transform the mining sector.

“Government cannot achieve this transformation alone,” he said. “To Ghanaian entrepreneurs, the bar for quality and innovation is high, but the opportunity is unprecedented. Prepare yourselves. Build partnerships. Compete boldly.”

He also assured international investors of Ghana’s stability while calling for genuine collaboration.

“Ghana offers you stability, policy clarity and long-term partnership, but we expect genuine collaboration that embeds capacity within our economy,” he stated.

Concluding his address, President Mahama expressed optimism that the Mining Local Content Summit would mark a turning point for the industry.

“If we get this right, our greatest export will not be raw gold or lithium,” he said. “Our greatest export will be Ghanaian talent, Ghanaian technology, Ghanaian enterprise, and a resilient and competitive mining economy.”

The summit is expected to produce policy recommendations aimed at deepening local participation and ensuring that Ghana’s mineral wealth translates into sustainable and inclusive national development.