John Dramani Mahama urges African nations to process minerals locally

President John Dramani Mahama has called for a unified African approach to mineral processing to ensure the continent retains a larger share of its natural wealth. Speaking at the Mining in Motion Summit in Accra, the President announced Ghana's ambitious goal to completely phase out the export of raw, unprocessed ores by the year 2030. This strategic shift is designed to enhance industrial growth and create sustainable jobs, addressing a long-standing economic imbalance where African nations export raw materials only to import expensive finished products.

The President emphasized that regional collaboration is essential for this transformation, citing frameworks such as the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and the African Union's Agenda 2063 as vital foundations. He urged fellow African member states to ratify the statutes of the African Minerals Development Centre (AMDC) and provide the institution with the necessary resources to function effectively. By aligning mineral policies across borders, Mahama argued that nations can avoid competing against one another through concessions that often undermine collective regional interests.

Central to the President’s vision is the "Accra Reset" framework, which seeks to grant African nations greater sovereign control over their resources. Mahama highlighted the necessity of value addition and environmental accountability, specifically noting the need to combat illegal mining activities, commonly known as galamsey. He lamented that historically poor negotiations have left many African countries with only a small fraction of their mineral wealth, a factor he identified as a primary driver of persistent poverty on the continent despite its vast natural reserves.

Looking toward the future, President Mahama invited foreign investors to partner with African nations under terms that prioritize technology transfer and local capacity building. As Ghana prepares to chair the African Union in 2027, the President intends to use the leadership role to advocate for these unified resource policies. He concluded by stressing that sustainable mining practices must move beyond simple extraction to provide tangible benefits for local communities and a foundation for the continent's long-term economic independence.