Ghana’s Minister for Lands and Natural Resources and Acting Minister for Environment, Science and Technology, Hon. Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah (MP), has arrived in South Africa to participate in the African Mining Indaba 2026, the continent’s largest mining investment and policy forum.
The annual event, held in Cape Town, brings together government officials, global mining companies, investors and regulators to discuss opportunities and constraints in Africa’s minerals sector and to catalyse capital flows into mining projects across the continent.
At Indaba 2026, Hon. Armah-Kofi Buah is expected to engage industry leaders on strengthening global partnerships and attracting targeted investments that support both sustainable extraction and downstream beneficiation. A key highlight for Ghana will be its “Ghana Day” event, where government and industry voices will present the country’s mining potential , particularly in gold, which remains a top asset for investors seeking exposure to Africa’s mineral wealth.
African mining continues to be a major economic force. In countries like South Africa, mining contributes significantly to national exports and fiscal revenue, while across the continent rising commodity prices and expanding operations have helped boost output of key minerals like gold, manganese and copper. Ghana, for example, remains Africa’s top gold producer, with gold alone accounting for an estimated large share of the country’s export earnings and being a cornerstone of its extractive industry.
For Ghana, mining is a pivotal part of the national economy. The sector contributes around 5–6% of Gross Domestic Product and historically has provided up to 40 per cent of foreign exchange earnings, with gold dominating more than 90 per cent of mineral exports. Production has been on an upward trend: in 2024 Ghana mined approximately 4.9–5.1 million ounces of gold, a year-on-year increase underpinned by strong artisanal and large-scale operations, while gold export receipts climbed significantly.
The country’s mining landscape is diversifying, with significant manganese and bauxite deposits and emerging lithium and iron ore prospects attracting investor interest. Ghana also fosters an investor-friendly environment with incentives such as tax breaks and exploratory allowances, intended to deepen foreign direct investment and expand exploration activity. Recent policy shifts, including the removal of VAT on mineral exploration, aim to make Ghana more competitive vis-à-vis other African mining jurisdictions and stimulate greenfield projects.
The African Mining Indaba forum underscores the continent’s broader strategic opportunity to capitalise on global demand for critical and precious minerals. As Africa holds a large share of global mineral reserves, events like Indaba act as important platforms for policy makers and investors to align on frameworks that promote responsible mining, economic inclusion and long-term growth in the sector.
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