The Minerals Commission and the Ghana Chamber of Mines have renewed calls for responsible investment, genuine partnerships and stronger local value creation as cooperation between Ghana and China in the mining sector continues to deepen.
The appeal was made at the 2025 Annual Conference and Chairman Rotation Ceremony of the Association of China-Ghana Mining (ACGM) in Accra, which brought together senior government officials, diplomats, regulators and mining executives to assess progress in bilateral mining cooperation and chart a path forward.
Mr. Isaac Andrews Tandoh, Chief Executive Officer of the Minerals Commission, said Ghana remained open to foreign direct investment in mining but emphasised that such investments must align with national development priorities and comply fully with regulatory requirements.
He noted that Chinese mining companies and institutions had contributed significantly to Ghana’s mining sector through capital inflows, technology transfer, productivity gains and skills development, with positive spillovers across mining communities.
“Your investments create jobs, introduce new technologies and help build local capacity,” Mr. Tandoh said, adding that Ghana–China mining relations had delivered tangible benefits nationwide.
However, he cautioned that future cooperation must be anchored in genuine partnerships, particularly in local content development and enterprise participation.
He warned that the Commission would not tolerate “fronting” arrangements that circumvent Ghana’s laws and deny the country the full value of its mineral resources.
“We want your investments to succeed, but we also want Ghana to grow,” Mr. Tandoh said, urging mining firms to engage transparently with regulators and pursue partnerships that transfer skills, technology and long-term development benefits.
He added that sustainable and equitable mineral development required continuous improvement in environmental management, health and safety, transparency and social responsibility, alongside accelerated value addition and sector formalisation.
Kenneth Ashigbey, Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Chamber of Mines, described relations between the Chamber and the Association of China-Ghana Mining as constructive and cordial.
He said Chinese enterprises continued to make meaningful contributions to Ghana’s economy, not only through mining operations but also across supporting value chains such as infrastructure development, employment creation and skills training.
“As representative bodies, we share a common interest in ensuring that Ghana remains a stable, competitive and attractive destination for responsible investment,” Dr. Ashigbey said, stressing the importance of continuous engagement and balanced dialogue between industry and state institutions.
He highlighted ongoing national discussions on fiscal reforms in the mining sector, including the review of mineral royalty frameworks, and called for inclusive dialogue that balances national revenue mobilisation with investment sustainability.
“We need to find a sweet spot that allows the country to benefit more from its mineral resources while enabling mining companies to grow and reinvest,” he said, adding that predictable and competitive fiscal regimes were essential for long-term sector resilience.
Dr. Ashigbey also encouraged stronger collaboration among Ghanaian and Chinese businesses, regulators and diplomatic missions to support constructive policy engagement and sustainable sector growth.
Mr. Tong Defa, speaking at the event, praised progress in China–Ghana mining cooperation and described the Association as an important bridge between the development strategies of both countries.
He said Chinese mining investments were increasingly supporting green transition, technological upgrading and community development.
The outgoing Chairman of the Association, Mr. Tang Zhenjiang, reflected on achievements during his tenure, including the promotion of intelligent mining systems, green energy solutions, technical training programmes and community support initiatives.
The incoming Chairman, Mr. Wang Jinquan, pledged to build on these gains by deepening engagement with Ghanaian authorities and industry stakeholders, strengthening member services and promoting innovation, environmental sustainability and talent development.
Other stakeholders at the conference agreed that the future of Ghana–China mining cooperation would depend on closer collaboration between regulators, industry associations and investors, underpinned by transparency, sustainability and mutual respect, to deliver inclusive and lasting benefits for Ghana’s economy and mining communities.
