Africa’s economic potential depends on stronger control over its natural resources, the Minister for Labour, Jobs and Employment, Dr. Abdul-Rashid Hassan Pelpuo, has said. He highlighted that achieving this requires “deeper regional integration” through the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which can expand intra-African trade and support industrialisation.
At the African Federation of Miners and Mineral Wealth (AFMMW) Executive Council Meeting, Pelpuo noted that boosting trade among African countries could reduce dependence on external markets and enable greater value addition in processing and manufacturing, creating jobs and stimulating economies. He observed that Africa’s mineral reserves, including cobalt, lithium, gold, and oil, position the continent strategically in global markets, particularly amid the ongoing energy transition.
Mr. Joseph Chewe, President of AFMMW, pointed to intensifying global competition for Africa’s critical minerals, with major powers actively pursuing access through investments and bilateral agreements. He urged mining unions to establish a “unified, coordinated front” on issues such as labour standards and collective bargaining. Similarly, Mr. Kwesi Pratt Jr., General Secretary of the Socialist Movement of Ghana, stressed the need to address casualisation in the mining sector, calling it a factor that undermines organised labour.
Representatives from Ghana’s unions reiterated the importance of protecting workers and promoting safety. Mr. Abdul-Moomin Gbena of the Ghana Mineworkers’ Union highlighted solidarity and occupational health initiatives, while Mr. Joshua Ansah of the Trades Union Congress called for reforms to ensure Africa’s resource wealth translates into tangible benefits for mining communities. The meeting concluded with a call for stronger regional collaboration to secure both economic growth and sustainable development from the continent’s mineral resources.
