The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, has called for a transformation of Ghana’s longstanding partnership with China from one centred largely on the supply of raw materials to one focused on domestic value addition and shared prosperity.
Mr Armah-Kofi Buah made the call when he delivered the opening address at the 28th China Mining Conference in Tianjin, China, on behalf of President John Dramani Mahama and the people of Ghana.
Addressing global leaders and ministers responsible for natural resources, the Minister said Ghana’s economic relationship with China must evolve to create greater value from the country’s mineral resources.
He said the key question for Ghana’s economic future was no longer simply who would buy the country’s resources, but what could be built together from those resources.
According to him, Ghana was “pivoting decisively” towards domestic value addition, with a focus on transforming its gold, bauxite and critical minerals into industries, jobs and career opportunities for young Ghanaians.
He said the approach was intended to ensure that Ghana derived greater economic benefits from its natural resources while creating opportunities for investment and industrial development.
Mr Armah-Kofi Buah said Ghana’s proposition to investors was based on three principles: fair value for the resource owner, a stable investment environment and partnerships capable of delivering lasting and shared prosperity.
He stressed that Ghana was seeking partnerships that would go beyond the extraction and export of raw materials to support the development of local industries and sustainable economic opportunities.
The Minister’s participation in the conference forms part of Ghana’s efforts to deepen international cooperation in the mining sector while advancing its agenda for mineral resource development and value addition.
