Ghana’s mining industry must demonstrate how its billions of cedis in taxes, local procurement and community investments are improving livelihoods, rather than relying on financial figures to defend its contribution to the economy.
Ahmed Dasana Nantogmah, Chief Operating Officer of the Ghana Chamber of Mines, said the industry needed to provide evidence of its impact, particularly as public scrutiny of corporate activities grows.
Speaking at the opening of the 2026 PR, Environment and Sustainability Seminar in Kumasi, Mr. Nantogmah said the public was becoming more informed and less willing to accept corporate claims without visible results.
“People want evidence. Our task is not simply to tell people what mining creates; our task is to show it,” he said, challenging industry communicators to move “from publicity to proof”.
He cited the mining industry’s contribution to Ghana’s economy in 2025, including more than GH¢24.2 billion in fiscal revenue, about US$7 billion in domestic expenditure, of which approximately US$4.2 billion went to local suppliers, and US$88.6 million in direct community investments by Chamber member companies.
But he questioned whether these contributions were translating into meaningful improvements in mining communities.
“If we go into the mining communities, are we going to see that impact?” he asked.
He said the industry’s performance should be measured not only by revenue and procurement figures but also by the growth of local businesses, improved livelihoods, better infrastructure and sustainable employment opportunities.
Mr. Nantogmah also linked the industry’s long-term contribution to the stability of mining policies and the ability to attract investment.
He said Ghana should use favourable gold prices to attract more exploration funding, expand production and extend the operating lives of existing mines, rather than concentrate mainly on extracting more revenue from current operations.
He further called for a shift from local procurement towards domestic manufacturing, arguing that buying goods locally does not necessarily create substantial value for Ghana when those products depend heavily on imported components.
Donald Gwira, Vice President of the Institute of Public Relations Ghana and guest speaker at the seminar, also stressed the importance of credibility in corporate communication.
He distinguished between reputation and trust, arguing that organisations could communicate a positive image but had to earn public confidence through their actions.
“Reputation is communicated, but trust is earned,” Mr. Gwira said.
He called for public relations to become part of strategic management rather than remain largely focused on publicity and media engagement.
According to him, communication professionals should be involved in organisational decisions from the outset to identify potential problems, understand stakeholder concerns and help shape responses before issues escalate into public controversies.
The discussions placed the mining industry’s relationship with host communities and the wider public at the centre of the seminar, with speakers highlighting the need for companies to demonstrate that their economic contributions are producing tangible benefits.
