The Member of Parliament for Manhyia North, Akwasi Konadu, has called for stronger governance reforms and increased value addition in Ghana’s mining sector following discussions at the 2026 Mining Indaba.
In a statement shared on his Facebook page, the lawmaker said the global conference, held in Cape Town from February 8 to 11, underscored the urgent need for African countries to enhance transparency, sustainability, and policy consistency to ensure mineral wealth translates into socio-economic development.
According to him, a key takeaway from the gathering was that mineral-producing countries must move beyond the extraction and export of raw materials toward value addition, industrialisation, and local content development.
He noted that rising global demand for strategic minerals such as lithium, manganese, bauxite, and rare earth elements presents Africa with an opportunity to position itself strongly within the global energy transition.
Mr. Konadu said Ghana, while remaining one of Africa’s leading gold producers and an emerging player in strategic mineral exploration, must intensify efforts to strengthen regulatory enforcement, deepen community engagement and maintain policy consistency.
He expressed concern over the continued impact of illegal mining, commonly known as galamsey, as well as environmental degradation and water pollution linked to unregulated small-scale mining.
These challenges, he stated, require stronger institutional coordination, improved monitoring systems and sustained collaboration among stakeholders.
The MP also stressed the importance of boosting investor confidence through transparent licensing processes and empowering regulatory bodies such as the Minerals Commission and the Environmental Protection Agency to effectively carry out their mandates.
He further highlighted the need for Ghana to maximise benefits from its mineral resources through local processing and the development of downstream industries. Strategic management of emerging minerals like lithium, he said, could support new industrial value chains, job creation and increased domestic revenue.
Mr. Konadu concluded that Ghana must adopt a long-term national strategy that aligns mineral development with economic transformation, environmental sustainability and inclusive growth.
He noted that while Africa’s mining industry presents significant opportunities, Ghana must strengthen its governance and policy frameworks to fully harness the sector as a catalyst for national development.
