Ghana has called on Chinese investors to support efforts to transform its mining industry through local mineral processing, technology transfer and industrial development, as the government targets more value from the country’s natural resources.
Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Dr. Alhaji Yusif Sulemana, made the call at the 2026 China (Guangxi)-ASEAN Mining Cooperation Conference in Nanning, China, where he outlined Ghana’s investment opportunities and plans to move beyond the export of raw minerals.
Delivering Ghana’s address, Dr. Sulemana said the country’s priority was not simply to increase mineral extraction and exports but to build domestic capacity to process its resources, create jobs, develop skills and retain greater economic value.
“Our priority is not simply to extract and export more raw materials,” he said, citing President John Dramani Mahama’s directive at the Mining in Motion Summit to end raw mineral exports by 2030 as a key part of Ghana’s drive to expand local mineral processing.
He highlighted Ghana’s deposits of gold, bauxite, iron ore, lithium, graphite and salt, assuring investors of a well-established regulatory framework to support mining activities.
Leveraging China’s expertise in mining technology, equipment manufacturing and mineral processing, the Deputy Minister identified geological exploration, digital mining and artificial intelligence, local processing, skills development and sustainable mining as key areas for cooperation.
He also called for partnerships in mine monitoring, environmental rehabilitation, pollution prevention and improved management of water and mining waste.
“Ghana is open for business,” he affirmed, urging Chinese companies to pursue partnerships that are “commercially sound, environmentally responsible and capable of delivering lasting benefits.”
Following the conference, Dr. Sulemana delivered the opening remarks at the Ghana National Mining Promotion Session, where government officials showcased the country’s mineral potential and investment opportunities across the mining value chain.
The session featured presentations by Ghana Geological Survey Authority Director-General, Dr. Prosper Akaba; Minerals Income Investment Fund Chief Executive Officer, Mrs. Justina Nelson; and Minerals Commission Deputy Chief Executive for Small-Scale and Industrial Mining, Mr. Maxwell Klu.
Their presentations highlighted geological opportunities, investment prospects, Ghana’s mineral development priorities and the institutional support available to prospective investors.
The engagements are part of the government’s efforts to attract foreign investment, expand local mineral processing and create more value from Ghana’s mineral resources.
