Ghana is on the verge of becoming one of the world’s best producers of iron ore in terms of value and grade, according to the Chief Executive Officer of the Minerals Commission, Isaac Andrews Tandoh.
This means that Ghana is sitting on a valuable treasure that could redefine its industrial future.
According to the CEO of the Minerals Commission, not one, but two of the country’s iron deposits being explored have been ranked among the best in value and grade globally, sparking fresh optimism for Ghana’s push toward industrialization.
Speaking on behalf of the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources at the launch of the maiden Africa Extractives Media Fellowship, Isaac Tandoh described this as a clear signal that Ghana’s mining story is shifting from mere extraction to real transformation.
“In fact, the two deposits that are being explored in Ghana give one of the best value and grade around the world,” he announced.
He added that value addition is currently at the core of the country’s mineral production policy, and hence, the government has already begun implementing policies to achieve that.
Institutions such as the Ghana Integrated Aluminium Development Corporation (GIADEC) and the Ghana Integrated Iron and Steel Development Corporation (GIISDEC) have been positioned at the center of this vision.
Their mandate, he says, is to make Ghana a hub for mineral value addition, creating jobs, industries, and wealth that stay within the country.
“In exploring these opportunities, we are also unequivocal about one thing. Value addition is a priority for us. That is why the government has already taken steps to implement policy decisions to promote value addition to our mineral resources with a strong state participation. Beyond policy, we have institutions like the Ghana Integrated Aluminium Development Corporation, GIADEC, to drive value addition to Ghana’s bauxite deposits,” he indicated.
He continued, “We also have the Ghana Integrated Iron and Steel Development Corporation, GISDEC, to champion the value addition to our iron deposits.”
Experts say if these high-value iron deposits are developed strategically, they could power Ghana’s steel industry, reduce import dependency, and support infrastructure development, from building rail lines to manufacturing homegrown machinery.
For a country that has long exported its raw treasures only to import finished goods at a higher cost, this shift to value addition, if well implemented, represents more than economics; it is a step toward national pride and self-reliance.
But beyond policy and exploration, the CEO of the Minerals Commission further underscored one indispensable partner, which is the media. He admitted that the role of the media cannot be understated.
He believes that the role of the media is pivotal in driving transparency, advocacy, and awareness in the industry, hence throwing the commission’s support behind the Africa Extractives Media Fellowship (AEMF).
“The media is a critical link in the work of our government. They are the pivot that drives transparency, advocacy, and awareness in the industry,” he stressed.
The new commitment of the Commission to value addition, coupled with the watchdog role of the media, is expected to ensure responsible natural resource governance and also ensure that wealth beneath the soil translates into prosperity for all Ghanaians.
