Ghana is pushing for a new model of mining cooperation with Russia that prioritises local mineral processing, technology transfer and industrial development, as the country looks to capture more economic value from its mineral wealth.
The position was presented by Minerals Commission Chief Executive Officer Isaac Tandoh on behalf of the government at the Second Russian-African Raw Materials Dialogue in Saint Petersburg, where he called for partnerships that treat Ghana as an equal participant in mineral development rather than a supplier of unprocessed resources.
“All future cooperations must move beyond simple raw material extraction toward a partnership of sovereign equals,” Mr. Tandoh said at the ministerial session.
The push reflects a longstanding challenge for resource-rich African economies, where mineral extraction generates export earnings but limited domestic processing can restrict opportunities for industrial growth, technology development and job creation.
According to the Minerals Commission, only about 2% of Africa’s natural resources are processed locally, despite eight of the world’s 20 largest gold-producing countries being African.
For Ghana, Africa’s leading gold producer, the government’s position is that future international mining agreements must deliver more than access to mineral deposits. They should also strengthen domestic industrial capacity and ensure a greater share of the value generated from extraction remains in the country.
Mr. Tandoh said Ghana was open to knowledge sharing and advanced technological transfers from Russia and other technologically advanced countries, but stressed that such cooperation must be structured to build lasting local capabilities.
He argued that partnerships should leave Ghanaian engineers and institutions with measurable improvements in technical expertise, rather than allowing cooperation to revolve primarily around resource extraction and the export of foreign expertise.
The proposed approach comes as Ghana seeks to broaden its mineral industry beyond gold to include resources such as lithium, iron ore and bauxite. State-backed development frameworks, including the Ghana Integrated Aluminium Development Corporation (GIADEC) and the Ghana Integrated Iron and Steel Development Corporation (GIISDEC), form part of efforts to develop these resources and support downstream industries.
Mr. Tandoh also highlighted Ghana’s efforts to strengthen oversight of the mining sector through digital systems designed to improve transparency and enforce compliance with mining regulations. He cited the Minerals Commission’s digital Mining Cadastre Administration System (MCAS) and geofencing technology as tools to ensure mineral rights acquisitions and mining operations adhere to established guidelines, safeguarding the interests of the state and other stakeholders.
Mr. Tandoh also called for a formal Ghana-Russia Mining Cooperation Framework built on reciprocity and direct institutional collaboration.
He noted that Russia’s demand for critical minerals could complement Ghana’s resource base, creating opportunities for cooperation in areas such as technical training, industrial development and mineral processing.
