The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah Kofi-Buah, has positioned Ghana as the most attractive mining jurisdiction in Africa, inviting global investors to partner with the country’s extractive sector.
He made the remarks during his address at the 2026 Investing in African Mining Indaba, where he presented Ghana’s mining industry as one anchored on political stability, legal predictability, and strong institutional oversight.
“Ghana is the most attractive mining jurisdiction in Africa. We offer a predictable legal and political environment where contracts are respected and investments are protected, regardless of changes in government,” the Minister declared, a pointed reassurance to investors wary of abrupt fiscal and licensing reforms in other mineral-rich states.
Ghana’s pitch was anchored in both performance and potential. As Africa’s leading gold producer and the sixth largest globally, the country has built decades of institutional experience in mineral governance. Beyond gold, its expanding portfolio of bauxite, manganese, iron ore, cobalt, nickel and other critical minerals places it strategically within global supply chains driving the energy transition.
Crucially, Ghana leveraged its geopolitical positioning as host of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat, presenting itself as a gateway to a unified African market of over 1.3 billion people, an advantage that strengthens the case for in-country value addition and regional mineral processing hubs.
The Minister underscored Ghana’s institutional architecture, stability agreements, capital allowances, tax incentives, and codified mineral rights protections, noting that the sector has attracted more than US$20 billion in investment over the past two decades, with nineteen large-scale mining companies currently operating in the country.
On the opening day of the conference, Hon. Kofi-Buah held strategic bilateral talks with Mr. Denys Denya, Senior Vice President of Afreximbank, focusing on mobilising long-term financing for priority projects in gold, bauxite and iron ore. The discussions emphasised value addition, mineral beneficiation, and the development of regional supply chains, reflecting Ghana’s shift from extraction-led growth toward industrial mineral transformation.
The Minister also toured the exhibition session of the Indaba, engaging global mining firms, equipment manufacturers, financiers and service providers. These interactions focused on sustainable mining technologies, environmental stewardship, and downstream processing opportunities — signaling Ghana’s intent to align mineral development with ESG standards and climate-conscious investment frameworks.
The 2026 Mining Indaba itself comes at a pivotal moment for Africa’s extractive industries. As global demand for transition minerals accelerates, African governments are recalibrating policies to secure better fiscal returns, expand local participation, and reduce raw mineral exports. The conference served as a high-level marketplace where capital, policy, and geopolitics intersect.
This year’s edition placed strong emphasis on sustainable resource governance, financing for industrialisation, and Africa’s bargaining power within global supply chains. Governments across the continent used the platform to showcase regulatory reforms and court strategic partnerships that go beyond traditional mining concessions.
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