Africa risks losing a large share of the economic benefits from its mineral wealth if countries continue negotiating independently against investors competing for access to critical resources, President John Dramani Mahama has warned.
Speaking at the 2026 Mining in Motion African Minerals Policy Forum in Accra on Monday, October 19, Mahama called for closer cooperation among African countries on mineral taxation, local participation and processing, arguing that fragmented national policies can undermine the continent’s ability to secure better commercial terms.
Rising demand for minerals used in electric vehicles, energy systems and advanced manufacturing presents African countries with an opportunity to attract investment and expand local industries. However, without greater investment in processing and manufacturing, much of the economic value from these resources will continue to be generated outside the continent.
Mahama said differences in mining policies and fiscal terms across African countries could weaken their bargaining power and undermine efforts to secure better returns from mineral resources.
He called for cooperation in sharing information and expertise, particularly on taxation, royalties and local participation, to help countries negotiate more favourable agreements with investors.
A common approach, he argued, would reduce competition between African countries for mining investments and strengthen their ability to retain a greater share of the wealth generated from their natural resources.
Mahama argued that African governments need to share information and expertise to avoid arrangements that encourage investors to play countries against one another.
“We must resist arrangements that pit our countries against one another and weaken our collective bargaining position,” he said.
Liberia’s Vice-President Jeremiah Kpan Koung made a similar case, calling for common principles and minimum standards that would help African countries secure fair returns, protect mining communities and develop competitive industries without disregarding national circumstances.
He proposed a common mineral policy framework, a regional value-addition roadmap and stronger coordination on geological information, local content and technology transfer.
Liberia also called for an annual ministerial review supported by a performance dashboard measuring investment, project preparation, local procurement, skills development and community outcomes.
The proposals aim to strengthen cooperation among African countries through shared policies, coordinated investments and regional projects that support local processing and industrial growth.
African countries could combine their mineral resources, energy supplies and processing facilities to develop regional industries. This could lower production costs, attract investors and expand markets for processed minerals and manufactured goods.
The African Continental Free Trade Area provides a framework for this approach, although differences in infrastructure, regulation, financing and industrial capacity remain significant obstacles.
Ghana’s Lands and Natural Resources Minister, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, also called for regional mineral value chains, arguing that the continent must assess how its mineral resources can support African enterprises, engineering capabilities and skilled employment.
“Our minerals world must build African enterprises,” he said.
Demand is rising for minerals used in emerging technologies and the energy transition. Without improved processing capacity, African countries risk continuing to export raw materials and import finished products at higher prices.
However, a common policy would need to balance cooperation with national interests. Countries differ in their mineral deposits, infrastructure, industrial readiness, and investment requirements, making identical fiscal or processing rules difficult to implement.
African countries could begin by sharing geological data, improving transparency and coordinating investment plans. Identifying cross-border projects could also help build regional supply chains and support manufacturing.
Koung said Liberia would use the proposed framework to deepen cooperation through the Economic Community of West African States and other continental institutions. He said Africa’s mineral wealth should be assessed by the jobs, businesses, and stronger institutions it creates for its people.
