After over 50 years of Australian companies’ participation in Ghana’s extractive sector, the Australian High Commissioner to Ghana, Her Excellency Berenice Owen-Jones, is counting the blessings her country’s companies have brought to Ghana’s economy.
Berenice Owen-Jones painted this picture of how Australian companies have, over the past five decades, contributed immensely to Ghana’s economy, communities, and workforce through responsible mining and sustainable investment at the launch of the maiden edition of the Africa Extractive Media Fellowship (AEMF).
Speaking before dignitaries, including the Deputy Chief of Staff, Nana Oye Bampo Addo, and the Chief Executive Officer of the Minerals Commission, Isaac Andrew Tandoh, among other dignitaries and the first cohort of Fellows of the Fellowship, the High Commissioner underscored the long-standing history of responsible investment and partnership that continues to define Ghana–Australia relations in the extractive sector.
Sustaining Ghana’s Economy Through Responsible Investment
She noted that with more than 150 Australian mining companies active across 30 African countries and investments exceeding 60 billion Australian dollars, Australia’s footprint in Ghana’s mining industry stands out for its scale and standards.
These companies, she said, have not only injected foreign capital into Ghana’s economy but have done so with a strong commitment to transparency, ethics, and sustainability.
She says the partnership is one that delivers sustainable and substantial benefits to Ghana’s economy and citizens, helping to stabilize the country’s extractive sector while fostering innovation and long-term productivity.
“We are proud of their contribution to economic growth and their role in fostering sustainable practices and community development,” she remarked.
Job Creation and Skills Development
One of the most tangible benefits of Australia’s involvement in Ghana’s extractive sector is job creation. She revealed that Australian mine operations alone employ over 1,100 Ghanaians, providing stable income to households and contributing to local development.
She also mentioned the Atlantic Lithium project, a project she believes is very promising and, when fully operational, could become Ghana’s first lithium mine. She noted it will create thousands of direct and indirect jobs while boosting the country’s export revenue and royalty earnings.
“Such a project is expected to create several thousand direct and indirect jobs, and generate substantial tax and royalty income,” he remarked.
Human Capital Development
Beyond mineral extraction, the High Commissioner emphasized that the “people-to-people connections” between Australia and Ghana remain at the heart of their relationship. She revealed that over the past 20 years, more than 500 Ghanaians have benefited from the Australia Awards Programme, pursuing advanced studies, research, and professional training in leading Australian universities.
These beneficiaries, she adds, have since returned to Ghana equipped with specialized knowledge in public health, agriculture, renewable energy, and mining. These skilled labourers help to continue to drive institutional growth and innovation across both public and private sectors.
Commitment to Gender Equality and Ethical Journalism
The High Commissioner also drew attention to the gender imbalance in both the extractive and media industries, emphasizing Australia’s ongoing commitment to empowering women. She cited the Her Press Initiative, a project supported by the Australian government earlier this year through the Dikan Centre, which provides training and mentorship for women journalists in Ghana.
The new Africa Extractive Media Fellowship, she said, builds on that vision by equipping journalists, especially women, with the tools, mentorship, and exposure needed to tell informed, balanced stories about mining, environmental sustainability, and economic development.
Building a Responsible and Inclusive Media
According to Her Excellency, Owen-Jones, the Africa Extractive Media Fellowship represents more than just a journalism training programme. She says it is a bridge between ethical reporting and responsible resource governance. The High Commissioner argues that a responsive and inclusive media does more than inform, it helps communities hold power to account and fosters peace through understanding, especially in the age of disinformation.”
Through the fellowship, journalists will gain deeper insights into the extractive sector, explore issues of gender equality and sustainability, and contribute to shaping public dialogue around resource management.
