The Administrator of the Ghana Medical Trust Fund (GMTF), Adjoa Obuobia Darko-Opoku, has challenged mining companies in Ghana to expand their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives by investing more in healthcare infrastructure and specialist medical services in mining communities.
Speaking at the National Mining Dialogue 2026, Ms. Darko-Opoku argued that Ghana’s most valuable resource is not its gold but its people, urging mining companies to consider the long-term social impact of their operations.
She said the mining industry’s social licence to operate should be strengthened through investments that directly improve the lives of people in host communities.
“At 2:00 AM, money cannot buy time. In a medical emergency, your wealth does not save you; the infrastructure nearest to you does.”
According to her, Ghana continues to face shortages of specialised medical equipment and healthcare specialists, creating challenges for patients who require urgent and advanced treatment.
She therefore called on mining companies to partner with the GMTF to support the equipping of hospitals, train specialist healthcare professionals and expand access to life-saving services in communities close to mining operations.
Ms. Darko-Opoku said such investments would create a lasting legacy for mining companies beyond the extraction of Ghana’s mineral resources.
She cited the potential impact of projects such as cancer treatment centres and cardiac catheterisation laboratories, which can provide critical care to patients within their communities.
“We didn’t just extract gold from your soil. We built the Cancer Centre that saved your mother. We installed the Cath Lab that saved your chief.”
She said this should be the kind of legacy the mining industry seeks to establish.
Ms. Darko-Opoku stressed that while mineral resources may eventually be depleted, investments in healthcare have the potential to save lives for generations.
She urged mining companies to move beyond traditional CSR projects and adopt strategic partnerships that address critical healthcare needs and improve the wellbeing of their host communities
