President John Dramani Mahama has set a 2030 target for Ghana to end exports of unprocessed mineral ores, intensifying the government’s push to move the mining sector beyond extraction and towards domestic manufacturing.
Speaking at the 2026 Mining in Motion African Minerals Policy Forum in Accra on Monday, October 19, the President said Ghana would pursue a phased prohibition on raw mineral exports, supported by legislation, mineral-specific requirements and implementation timelines.
“Our bauxite, manganese, iron, lithium, and other minerals must support processing and industrial development here at home,” he said.
The policy seeks to address this imbalance by ensuring that more of the value generated from Ghana’s mineral resources is retained locally through processing, manufacturing and the development of industries that create skilled jobs and expand opportunities for Ghanaian businesses.
Mr Mahama cited Ghana’s historical exports of manganese and bauxite through Takoradi, noting that the minerals have supplied industries abroad while opportunities for domestic technological development have remained limited.
The government now wants to establish stronger links between mineral extraction, refining and manufacturing, allowing Ghanaian businesses to participate in more stages of the production chain.
Under this approach, the Ghana Integrated Aluminium Development Corporation (GIADEC) is expected to support the development of an integrated aluminium industry, connecting domestic bauxite supplies to alumina refining, smelting and finished products. The Ghana Integrated Iron and Steel Development Corporation (GIISDEC) is similarly intended to link iron ore resources to local steel production.
The President also pointed to gold refining and manganese processing as areas where Ghana could retain more value through domestic technical services and industrial capacity.
However, the 2030 target raises questions about whether the country can establish competitive processing facilities within the available timeframe.
Refineries and smelters require reliable electricity, adequate water, transport infrastructure, financing and a consistent supply of raw materials. They must also produce at costs that allow them to compete with established processors in international markets.
Mr Mahama acknowledged these requirements, arguing that legislation alone would not build an industrial economy.
“Investors need predictable rules, clear institutional responsibilities, and efficient and prompt approvals,” he said, while stressing the need for affordable energy, skilled workers, infrastructure and financing.
The policy also carries implications for mining companies and prospective investors. The President said access to Ghana’s mineral resources would come with processing obligations, indicating that future investment arrangements must support the country’s domestic industrial ambitions.
The government has also banned the export of iron scrap and non-ferrous metals to make more raw materials available to local industries.
However, achieving the 2030 target will require investment in infrastructure, reliable energy supply and processing facilities to enable local industries to handle the minerals currently exported in raw form.
Mr Mahama said Ghana would welcome foreign capital, technology and expertise, but insisted that partnerships must extend beyond extraction to include knowledge transfer, supplier development and opportunities for local enterprises.
He also stressed the need to give Ghanaian businesses greater opportunities in mining operations, from ownership and management to production, to create jobs and expand local business participation.
The President’s 2030 target therefore places pressure on the government to translate its industrial ambitions into operating facilities, commercially viable projects and sustainable jobs.
