Ghana is seeking to attract Chinese investment in mineral exploration, gold refining and branding as the government pushes for greater value addition and more sustainable returns from the country’s mineral resources.
The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, reaffirmed the government’s readiness to partner with Guangdong Shengmai Tech Co. Ltd., saying Ghana was interested in investors willing to make long-term commitments to the mining sector and contribute to local economic development.
The potential partnership could introduce modern exploration technology and create opportunities to strengthen Ghana’s gold processing capacity, although the company’s proposed investments and projects are yet to be finalised.
Mr Buah made the remarks during a meeting with a delegation from the Chinese company, led by Tang Zhong Chun, which expressed interest in expanding its operations into Ghana.
The delegation cited Ghana’s mineral wealth, peaceful environment and investment potential as key factors behind its interest in the country.
Mr Tang said the company used modern electromagnetic technology for mineral exploration, which could reduce the time and resources required to identify mineral deposits while supporting more environmentally sustainable exploration practices.
He said the company was prepared to work with the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources and other relevant agencies to identify opportunities where its expertise could support the development of Ghana’s mineral sector.
The delegation also outlined long-term plans to establish a gold refinery and introduce a gold branding initiative in Ghana, potentially creating opportunities to expand domestic processing and increase the value derived from the country’s gold resources.
For Ghana, greater investment in local refining could support efforts to retain more value within the domestic economy rather than relying predominantly on the export of less-processed mineral products. However, the potential economic benefits would depend on the scale of investment, the refinery’s operational capacity and the extent of local participation.
Mr Buah said Ghana expected investors to look beyond short-term profits and demonstrate a commitment to the communities in which they operated.
He stressed that responsible mining practices, environmental protection and the rehabilitation of mined-out areas must form part of any investment in the sector.
The Minister said mining investments should contribute to improving livelihoods in host communities while safeguarding the environment against the long-term effects of mineral extraction.
The proposed engagement comes as Ghana seeks to maximise the economic benefits of its mineral resources through investment, technology transfer, local processing and stronger environmental standards.
Any eventual partnership with Guangdong Shengmai Tech Co. Ltd. would therefore be assessed not only on its capacity to attract capital and introduce new technology, but also on its potential contribution to domestic value addition, employment and sustainable development in mining communities.
