As Ghana continues its push for value addition in the mining sector, policy analyst and natural resource governance advocate Dr. Steve Manteaw is urging the government to take a more strategic, connected approach.
According to him, true value addition will remain a slogan unless the country tackles the overlooked basics, which is affordable power, adequate raw materials, and a clear link between mining procurement and industrial policy.
He believes that if Ghana can properly align its mining procurement list, which is the list of goods and services mining companies are required to source locally, with the country’s industrial policy, it could spark a wave of manufacturing growth and job creation.
The Missed Connection Between Mining and Manufacturing
Mining companies in Ghana spend billions of cedis every year buying inputs, from cement, steel, and lubricants to protective gear, cables, and machine parts.
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However, much of this money goes to foreign suppliers because the local manufacturing sector is too weak or unprepared to meet industry standards.
Dr. Manteaw says this disconnection is a lost opportunity. The natural resource governance expert believes that if the government can align the mining procurement list with the country’s industrial needs, the state can deliberately build local capacity to produce many of the inputs used in mining.
“Aligning the mining procurement list with our industrial policy will unlock a great deal of manufacturing jobs for our people,” he says.
Simply put, if Ghana’s factories and small manufacturers were guided and supported to supply what the mining companies need, local industries would grow, new factories would emerge, and thousands of jobs would be created.
Why Strategy, Not Sentiment, Must Drive Resource Nationalism
Ghana’s growing debate around “resource nationalism”, the idea that the country should get more from its natural resources, has often been framed emotionally.
But Dr. Manteaw warns that patriotism alone cannot build industries. “Resource nationalism must be underpinned by strategy, not arbitrariness,” he stressed.
He argues that the state can’t just wake up and demand that mining firms process minerals locally when the power is unreliable, feedstock is inadequate, and there’s no supporting industry.”
For him, without affordable electricity and the right scale of production, even the most patriotic plans for local value addition will collapse under their own weight.
Affordable Power and Feedstock – The Missing Foundations
The first two factors, Dr. Manteaw says, are often ignored; affordable and reliable power, and adequate feedstock with economies of scale, are critical to any industrial drive.
Factories that could supply the mining sector often face high electricity tariffs and frequent outages, making it difficult to produce competitively.
Similarly, the lack of consistent raw materials or components means even willing manufacturers cannot meet the demand of large-scale mining operations.
He insists that if the state doesn’t solve the power problem and ensure a steady supply of raw materials, we’ll keep talking about value addition without actually adding any value.
He believes that once Ghana deliberately matches its mining procurement requirements with its industrial priorities, it will give direction to both investors and local producers. For example, if the mining procurement list emphasizes the local supply of mining equipment, the industrial policy can focus on supporting steel production and machine parts manufacturing.
Such coordination, he argues, will create predictable demand, attract investment, and help Ghana develop clusters of industries around mining towns.
