A campaign is gradually emerging for Ghana to manage its mineral revenue in the same manner as it manages revenue from its petroleum resources.
The growing call is advocating that there is a need for Ghana to manage its mineral wealth with the same discipline and transparency that governs petroleum revenues.
The proponents for this campaign are pushing for the passage of a dedicated Minerals Revenue Management Law, just like the Petroleum Revenue Management Law.
Leading this advocacy is the President of the Ghana Chamber of Mines, Michael Edem Akafia, who says the absence of a clear legal framework for managing mineral revenues remains a major gap in Ghana’s natural resource governance.
He made this forceful call when he was speaking at the 11th Ghana Mining Industry Awards in Accra. Edem Akafia, in justifying the call, argued that while mining has been a backbone of the economy for decades, the country still lacks a structured system to track, save, invest, and account for the revenues it generates.
In contrast, petroleum revenues are managed under a strict and clear law that spells out how funds are collected, shared, saved, and reported to the public.
The Petroleum Revenue Management Act, he noted, has helped improve transparency, build public trust, and ensure that oil revenues support national development priorities while also being saved for the future.
A similar law for minerals, he believes, could bring the same discipline to Ghana’s mining sector.
“A Minerals Revenue Management Act will deepen transparency, improve accountability and ensure that mineral revenues are used more efficiently and equitably. It is essential for intergenerational equity, saving and investing today’s revenue for future needs and the rainy day,” the President of the Chamber of Mines indicated.
It is expected that under such a framework, mineral revenues could be clearly ring-fenced, with rules on how much is spent, how much is saved, and how much is invested for future generations.
It will also reduce public suspicion, limit waste, and ensure mining communities and the broader economy see lasting benefits from the country’s mineral wealth. Without careful management, today’s gains could easily become tomorrow’s regrets.
A Minerals Revenue Management Law would therefore promote intergenerational equity, ensuring that current extraction does not come at the expense of future needs.
The advocacy comes at a time when public debate around resource governance is intensifying, especially over whether Ghana is getting full value from its minerals. The proponents of the proposal believe such a law could strengthen accountability, improve planning, and help turn mineral wealth into lasting national prosperity.
