Government has stepped up efforts to position Ghana as a top-tier mining destination, engaging global investors in a renewed drive to attract capital into the country’s mineral sector.
The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, led the charge at an Investors’ Forum held on the sidelines of the United Nations Forum on Forests in New York, where he pitched Ghana as a stable and competitive hub for mining investment.
Addressing high-level industry players, the Minister highlighted Ghana’s vast mineral endowment, including gold, bauxite, manganese, diamonds and emerging critical minerals such as lithium, cobalt and nickel.
He noted that Ghana continues to maintain its status as Africa’s leading gold producer and ranks among the top globally, while strategically positioning itself to benefit from the global energy transition through investments in critical minerals.
Mr Buah pointed to over $20 billion in investments attracted into Ghana’s mining sector over the past two decades, driven by multinational firms such as Newmont Corporation, AngloGold Ashanti, Gold Fields, Zijin Mining and Perseus Mining.
He also highlighted growing interest from emerging players, including Newcore Gold, Azumah Resources and Northern Ashanti Mines, as further evidence of Ghana’s expanding appeal.
According to him, this sustained inflow of investment reflects confidence in Ghana’s regulatory environment and long-term prospects.
The Minister emphasised that Ghana’s mining sector is supported by a robust legal and institutional framework, particularly the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703), which provides guarantees on stability agreements, contract protection and fiscal incentives.
He outlined a series of recent policy reforms aimed at reducing the cost of doing business, including the removal of Value Added Tax on exploration activities, the scrapping of the COVID-19 levy, and adjustments to the Growth and Sustainability Levy.
“These measures are part of a broader strategy to enhance competitiveness and attract new investment into the sector,” he said.
On environmental governance, Mr Buah reiterated government’s commitment to tackling illegal mining through initiatives such as the Responsible Cooperative Mining and Skills Development Programme, designed to formalise small-scale mining and create responsible investment pathways.
He stressed that beyond raw extraction, government is pursuing diversification and value addition, with plans to establish domestic refineries for gold and lithium.
This, he said, would enable Ghana to capture more value from its mineral resources while creating jobs and boosting industrial growth.
The Minister also reaffirmed Ghana’s adherence to international transparency and accountability frameworks, including the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme and the African Mining Vision.
He assured investors that Ghana remains committed to regulatory transparency, policy consistency and investor protection.
“Ghana is open for business. The opportunities are enormous, the environment is stable, and the time to invest is now,” he said.
Ghana’s participation in the UN forum forms part of a broader strategy to showcase its leadership in sustainable resource governance while strengthening its position in the global mining value chain.
